Latest Politics News and Updates: State Congress, RJD leaders back Manjhi on visit to Sadhu Yadav

Sunday, January 18, 2015

State Congress, RJD leaders back Manjhi on visit to Sadhu Yadav - Times of India

Patna: A day after public disapproval by the ruling JD (U) spokesperson for visiting former MP Anirudh Prasad alias Sadhu Yadav's house for a Makar Sankranti feast, CM Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday received support from his party's allies - the Congress and RJD.

A section of Congress leaders led by MLC Ramchandra Bharti said, "It is improper that leaders of his own party are pulling up the CM just for visiting the house of a former MP. Every CM attends feasts organized by politicians or individuals. Does a CM require permission for attending a feast?" JD (U) leaders should desist from putting the CM in an embarrassing position by issuing unnecessary statements.

"Manjhi, being the administrative head of the state, is free to visit the house of a former MP and participate in a social feast. Why these JD (U) leaders were silent when the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi had held a meeting with Sadhu Yadav in Ahmedabad?," asked former BPCC general secretary Vinod Sharma. He said the JD (U) leaders' remarks would adversely impact governance and administration.

Madhepura RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav on Sunday went a step ahead and said the "demeaning statements" against Manjhi were being issued deliberately at the behest of a JD (U) minister as part of a conspiracy to weaken forces of social justice in the state. "Unnecessary controversy is being created at the behest of minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh... It is very unfortunate on the part of JD (U). A spokesperson can't challenge any action or decision of his party's CM," Pappu told newsmen at a press conference here. Propriety demanded that the matter should have been dealt with within the party in a more mature manner.

The RJD MP also said Manjhi should not be disturbed till the assembly polls in Bihar as any such move would ultimately benefit the saffron brigade and weaken the secular alliance.

The controversy erupted after Manjhi visited Sadhu Yadav's house for a Makar Sankranti feast on January 16. Sadhu Yadav himself threatened to file a defamation suit against JD (U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar. "No criminal case is pending against me, so on what basis is the JD (U) spokesman branding me as a criminal and speaking against me," Sadhu said on Sunday.

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