Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, December 19
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi, who is president of NDA ally HAM party, has invited criticism from JDU and BJP leaders over his comments against Brahmins and Dalits.
He has called Brahmins Haarami, Saale and Chutiya (bastards, stupids etc) and exhorted Dalits to boycott Brahmins.
Manjhi was addressing a conference of Bhuyiyan castes (SC) at Kalidas Rangalaya here. He regretted now, Dalits have also become religious minded and organising Satyanarayan Puja in every house and clusters, Satyanarayan Puja was not heard among the Dalits. But unfortunately, they have started worshiping Gods.
The former Chief Minister said there were many wrongs in the Hindu religion. The Brahmin priests conduct Satyanarayan Puja, but refuse to eat in the houses of Dalits.
They (Haarami Brahmins) demand cash in place of food and the Dalits (chutiyaa) still invite them for religious programmes, Manji who belongs to Mushar (rat eaters) community said
In his speech full of hatred against the Brahmins, Manjhi even used derogatory words like Saale (brother of wife), an abusive term used in He described Hindu religion as khatarnak dharm (dangerous religion).
Reacting to the offensive words against the Brahmins, Upendra Kushwaha, chairman of JDU parliamentary board said Manjhi was a senior leader and he should avoid language which leads to tension in the society.
Niraj Kumar, senior JDU leader and former minister regretted Manjhi’s comments and apprehended this may disturb harmony in the rural areas.
Mrityunjay Tiwari, RJD’s spokesman commented Manjhi was being humiliated in NDA, hence he was speaking against the upper castes.
BJP spokesperson, Sanjay Kumar Tiger regretted Manjhi’s comments and said he was a senior leader and should maintain decency. Calling Pandits with adjectives like Haarami and Saala was quite offensive,he said.
Manjhi is an MLA from Gaya and his son, Santosh is a cabinet minister in Bihar.
Last week, Manjhi had alleged 60 per cent of the IAS and IPS officers consumed liquor in Patna and advised their houses should be raided after 10 pm.
Nitish Kumar is starting his Samaj Sudhar Yatra from December 22 to popularise total prohibition
Vice president of Bihar unit of BJP and firmer rural development minister, Nitish Mishra sharply reacted to the remarks of Manjhi against Hindu religion, Brahmins and God Satyanarayan.
In a statement, Nitish Mishra, whose father Dr Jagannath Mishra, three times chief minister had inducted Manjhi into politics, said entire Bihar was agitated over the uncivilized comments of Manjhi.
He condemned the former chief minister and said he has outraged the feelings of Hindus by calling their religion as dangerous.
