Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi, declared his intention to stage a dharna at Raj Ghat in New Delhi, expressing his dissent against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. This decision follows Kumar’s disparaging remarks directed at Manjhi during the recently concluded winter session of the state assembly.
Initially planning a silent demonstration at the Ambedkar Memorial near the Patna High Court, Manjhi faced obstruction from the district administration, prompting him to initiate a sit-in protest in front of the memorial’s statue. Addressing the media, Manjhi conveyed that his protest at Raj Ghat aims not only to address the perceived insult against him but also to symbolize solidarity with the entire Dalit community of Bihar and the nation. He lamented the use of derogatory language by the Chief Minister, emphasizing the inappropriateness of such discourse from a leader representing 13 crore people.
Manjhi further hinted at exploring legal avenues against Nitish Kumar for the disparaging remarks made during the assembly session. The former Chief Minister asserted that Nitish’s claim of elevating him to the CM position was an outcome of political maneuvering by the BJP, asserting that the RJD had bestowed the role upon Nitish after his betrayal.
Accompanied by prominent BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha and Bihar BJP President Samrat Chaudhary, Manjhi underscored the significance of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, characterizing him as akin to a deity. Expressing dissatisfaction over the closure of the Ambedkar Memorial gate, Manjhi questioned the use of such language by Nitish, especially when leaders across party lines had supported the reservation amendment bill in the assembly.
In his defense, Manjhi clarified that his advocacy for a review of reservation quotas aligns with the principles endorsed by the Father of the Constitution, B. R. Ambedkar. As the political tension escalates, the former Chief Minister alluded to a potential plot against the Chief Minister, hinting at a ‘plot to poison CM’s food’ in the aftermath of Nitish’s verbal onslaught.