JD(U) may take action against Manjhi for quip - Times of India

PATNA: The national JD (U) leadership has taken exception to Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's remark that upper caste people are foreigners and descendants of Aryan race while dalits are natives of the land. Reacting to the statement, JD (U) national secretary general K C Tyagi said the party took strong exception to his remarks and may not hesitate from taking action against him.

Talking to TOI over phone from New Delhi, Tyagi said, "Manjhi was made CM to carry on the development works in Bihar on the road map set by former CM Nitish Kumar. He was not asked to rewrite the Indian history. It's is not his job. His statements are damaging the party image. He is crossing the limits."

However, on Thursday, Manjhi asserted his upper caste statement was based on historical facts. Talking to mediapersons here after a government-sponsored programme of building construction department, the CM said, "I am firm on my statement. I did not say anything wrong."

Reacting sharply to Manjhi's statement in West Champaran district on Tuesday, Mokama JD (U) MLA Anant Singh said, "Manjhi is speaking like a mad person. He has lost his mental balance. He was made CM while ignoring the claims of deserving candidates. Nitish should take over the chair from him. It is in the interest of Bihar that Manjhi resigns immediately."

JD (U) spokesman Niraj Kumar said, "The party disagrees with Manjhi's utterances. His remarks have upset a section of the society, which the party supremo Nitish Kumar has disapproved." Kumar, himself an upper caste, said, "I am not a foreigner."

Former national vice-president of BJP and Rajya Sabha member Dr C P Thakur said Manjhi was twisting the historical facts.

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