BJP using Jitan Ram Manjhi as sacrificial lamb, say Nitish Kumar's supporters

PATNA: Pro-Nitish Kumar dalit leaders of JD(U) today said BJP was making Jitan Ram Manjhi a sacrificial lamb and criticised the chief minister for diluting the concept of Mahadalit Commission by including Paswans in it.

"BJP is garlanding Manjhi just as butchers do to a goat before sacrificing it," JD(U) general secretary Shyam Rajak told reporters.

Arun Manjhi, JD(U) MLA from Masaurhi, took on the chief minister for including Paswans in the Mahadalit Commission.

"Paswan caste has developed by availing benefits of reservation for past many years. In order to bring up other dalit castes Nitish Kumar had constituted a mahadalit category and excluded Paswan caste from it," Arun Manjhi, once a close aide of the CM, said.

"By including affluent Paswan caste, Jitan Ram Manjhi has diluted the Mahadalit Commission which had separately started about 19 welfare programmes for the most poor among dalits," he said.

The Commission had been set up by Nitish Kumar. The two leaders joined by another MLA Manish Kumar assailed Manjhi for doing little for weaker sections and hailed Nitish Kumar for initiating steps for their genuine well being.