Speaking at a party function, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief told his party workers that Nitish Kumar had done the "right thing". (File photo)
Nitish Kumar did the right thing by stopping the use of sirens on cars with red and blue beacons, his alliance partner Lalu Prasad said today, backing up the chief minister in what is turning out to be a sensitive issue in the state.
Speaking at a party function organsied on the occasion of his taking over as party president for seventh straight term, the Rashtriya Janata Dal chief told his party workers that Mr Kumar had done the "right thing".
"Everyone knows it was being misused rampantly and Nitish, by issuing the order, preempted any possible misuse," he said.
While no one has openly spoken on the matter, the opposition BJP and a section within Mr Prasad's own party have hinted that Mr Kumar's decision is unfair and bent on stripping the "privileges" of ministers using a red or blue beacon car.
The turnaround by the RJD chief comes days after he blamed the Chief Minister for the state of law and order in Bihar.
The patch-up between the two leaders apparently took place during Makar Sakranti, when Mr Prasad invited Mr Kumar to his home for a lavish meal and marked his forehead with "Dahi Tilak," considered an auspicious ritual.
On the occasion, Mr Prasad also announced that the Grand Alliance will rule under the leadership of Mr Kumar for another 20 years.
Mr Prasad also announced that he would soon undertake his much publicised Varanasi Yatra, during which he would ask people how much of "ache din" they saw since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India.
Mr Prasad, who is unable to run for any public office owing to his conviction in a fodder scam case, has been accused of playing the "super chief minister" by dictating orders to officials of the health department, which is headed by his son Tej Pratap Yadav. His younger son Tejashwi Yadav is the deputy chief minister.