Lalu horse in enemy stable

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Link:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1061120/asp/jamshedpur/story_7024724.asp

 

Lalu horse in enemy stable

- dal-u strongman tops bid for pawan

ASHISH SINHA

 

Patna, Nov. 19: It was a horse-trading Lalu Prasad would never have

dreamt of because the man who had the last laugh was one of his

die-hard opponents and someone who was far removed from the RJD boss's

mind.

 

After the death of his dearest horse Chetak a few months ago, Lalu

Prasad sent Pawan — his second equestrian acquisition — to the ongoing

Sonepur fair and put it up for sale. The price tag was a cool Rs 1.51

lakh.

 

The first two days saw no buyers but on the third day today, Baleshwar

Rai of Raghopur became a ready customer and a bargain was struck for

Rs 1.01 lakh.

 

" I decided to sell Pawan because I do not have anyone to take care of

the animal. It has to be kept with a lot of affection, " Lalu Prasad said.

 

Rai was an acceptable buyer because he belongs to Raghopur and hails

from the Yadav caste, which has traditionally been a great lover of

animals, especially of the domesticated variety.

 

But soon after the deal was struck, controversial Mokama MLA Anant

Singh, who hogs the limelight for the wrong reasons, also landed at

the fair and offered a thousand rupees more to top the bid.

 

Pawan's caretaker immediately contacted Lalu Prasad who said the horse

should be sold to Rai and not Singh.

 

The story would have ended there but Singh, known for his high-handed

ways, was too impressed by the well-trained horse. A source at the

fair said the Mokamah strongman wasted no time and " contacted " Rai

with a better offer.

 

Singh was now ready to pay Rs 1.11 lakh — Rs 10,000 more — for the

horse and Rai was willing to concede for reasons best known to him

because the second offer came within a matter of a few hours.

 

Pawan is already in Patna and has been kept at Singh's new abode in

the heart of the city. The plot of land had come under cloud a few

months because of a dispute.

 

" I have changed the horse's name. It is now called Rudal (a

mythological warrior), which is a more manly name than Pawan. Since it

is chilly, I have wrapped the horse in a warm blanket, " said Singh,

who took a short ride on the animal.

 

The MLA said Lalu Prasad had to sell the horse because he did not have

the money to look after it. " I will take good care of Rudal now. I

have already gifted a gold chain to it. RJD ka ghoda JD(U) mein aa

gaya (The RJD's horse is in the JD-U now), " Singh said.