Jitan Ram Manjhi a better Chief Minister than Nitish Kumar: Ram Vilas Paswan

NEW DELHI: Taking a dig at former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, LJP President Ram Vilas Paswan today claimed current Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi "is better" than his predecessor but he is not being given a free hand.

Replying to questions on Manjhi, Paswan said Manjhi comes from a humble background and claimed since he is mahadalit that's why (JD(U)) wants to remove him.

"Why he (Manjhi) should be removed because he comes from poor family or he is mahadalit? The question should be asked to Nitish Kumar who made him the Chief Minister why Manjhi is making irresponsible statements. Nitish Kumar is behind this. Manjhi is not like Nitish Kumar who says something and does something else," Paswan said while replying to questions on the possibility of Manjhi's removal as CM.

Paswan also claimed Manjhi had successfully had this year's stampede in Patna investigated whereas Nitish Kumar didn't do anything when similar incidents had taken place during his tenure.

"Manjhi is better than Nitish Kumar but no one allows him to work...If Nitish has the guts, then remove him or announce him as their Chief Ministerial candidate in next assembly elections...Manjhi was made Chief Minister to tackle Paswan, Manjhi was made Chief Minister on contract. Now they want to defame him so that people will say Nitish was better compared to him," the LJP President added.

Replying to questions on Congress's terming Modi government as U-turn sarkar, Paswan said "since this Prime Minister has arrived, the stature of our country is touching the sky. Today youth is confident about their future, everywhere cleanliness drive is going on, inflation is under control whereas government has just been in power for six months only."