Rashtriya Janata Dal president and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav appealed to Muslims on Monday to forgive him for past mistakes and support his party in the Bihar assembly polls. He was speaking at the eighth convention of the Jamait-e-Ulema.

In an apparent bid to woo the community, Yadav assured them he would rectify his mistakes of the past and take concrete steps for their socio-economic development.

Lalu admitted that neither he nor his party has done much for the community during the 15 years of RJD rule in the state. "Hamari aankhein moti ho gayi thi (I was wearing blinkers. It had dulled my vision)," Lalu said. "With all my heart, I appeal to you to forgive me for the mistakes committed in the past by my party."

• Lalu: RJD president once more

However, Lalu did not miss a chance to recall that it was his party which had kept communal forces at bay, keeping the state free from communal trouble. He also said his government had implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations in Bihar, benefiting the backward sections of society. 

Lalu also recalled how the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre  had created hurdles in the barricading of graveyards and setting up hostels for minority community students in Bihar.