At least 15 MPs loyal to Laloo Prasad Yadav, including three Union Ministers, met Prime Minister I K Gujral today and asked him to come to the aid of their leader failing which they would be forced to take a ``radical decision in a couple of days.''

Indicating that they would even split the party, the delegation, which included Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Kanti Singh and Jai Narain Nishad, asked Gujral to ``persuade'' his predecessor H D Deve Gowda, Union Ministers Ram Vilas Paswan, Shrikanta Jena and C M Ibrahim all supporters of party working chief Sharad Yadav -- to let Laloo continue as CM and party chief.

Accusing the CBI of ``high-handedness'' in the manner in which it raided the houses of Laloo and his kin, these leaders alleged that the agency was on a witch-hunt. They warned the CBI against arresting Laloo. ``No leader be it Narasimha Rao or Advani has been arrested after being chargesheeted,'' they said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.