LAW KUMAR MISHRA
Patna: Former chief minister,Jeetan Ram Manjhi who is president of HAM party, a constituent of NDA in Bihar 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,daliya 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 worshipping God’s
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 abhiyan from December 22 to popularise total prohibition