AMN /
PATNA: Differences have surfaced in the BJPled NDA camp ahead of elections in Bihar as two Dalit leaders from state are trying to downsize each other.
Soon after Ram Vilas Paswan terming Jitan Ram Manjhi as leader on trial in NDA, at a TV channel, later Hit out at paswan questioning his status as Dalit leader.
Manjhi questioned the former’s status as “a leader of Dalits” and accused him of practising “familycentric politics”.
Manjhi said he was offended by the purported remark as he has been in active politics since 1970s and has served as an MLA, minister in the state Cabinet and also chief minister for around nine months in the current JDU government.
Talking to media persons Manjhi said : “How could he (Paswan) claim to be a national leader of Dalits when he did not utter a word on several issues plaguing the Scheduled Castes (SC). He didn’t even protest when his own castes of Paswan and Dusadh were not included among ‘mahadalits’ by the Nitish Kumar government.”
Manjhi said it was him who had included the Paswan and Dusadh castes among ‘mahadalits’ and asserted that, considering that achievement, Union Minister Paswan could not be regarded as a leader of even his own caste.
“I am telling this with due respect that Paswan has been unable to raise himself and his party above his son and brothers. His entire politics revolves around them,” added Manjhi.
“Paswan and me both spoke at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rallies at Muzaffarpur and Gaya. We were present at his Bhagalpur rally as well. The applause that I got was superseded by only one leader and that was Modi. This points towards the leader who has the support of the public. What can be done if Paswan is unable to understand this,” added Manjhi.
The former chief minister said Paswan should thank BJP and Modi for the victory of his party candidates in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.