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Shah Jahan Built The Taj Mahal For His Wife, But Lalu Ji Gave Me The Real Taj, Says Rabri Devi

She also asked PM Modi for 50% reservation for women in Parliament.
By 

General Assignment Editor, Huffpost India

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Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Former chief minister of Bihar Rabri Devi was all praises for her husband for her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav on International Women's Day even as she highlighted the need to empower women in the country.

The Telegraph quoted Rabri Devi as saying, "What should I say about him (Lalu)? He has given me so much. Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, but Lalu ji gave me the real taj (crown) and made a woman like me the chief minister of the state and allowed her to rule it."

Rabri Devi became the first woman chief minister of Bihar in 1997 after her husband Lalu had to give up the post because of corruption charges against him. She became chief minister again in the year 2000 and was in power till 2005.

However, she was termed a "puppet chief minister" because it was said that Lalu was the one calling the shots from prison.

The newspaper reported that she also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring a legislation for 50% reservation for women in state assemblies and in Parliament. She said that it would see full support in Bihar.

While she was initially shy of the media, Rabri Devi has become more vocal in recent times.

She had shown support for her sons Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav during the elections last year. In the recent months she has been seen scolding the media which is a sea change from earlier times.

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-- This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.