Ramvilas Paswan demands judicial probe into Dalit man's death in Bihar

PATNA: The death of a Dalit man allegedly due to starvation in Bihar's Sheikhpura district recently, has snowballed into a political controversy with Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan today demanding a judicial probe into the matter.

However, the state Food and Consumer Protection Minister Madan Sahni maintained that the 60-year-old Jago Manjhi died on Friday due to "illness and not because of hunger".
The death of Dalit man punches hole in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's agenda of good governance and implementation of the PDS in Bihar, the LJP supremo told reporters.

"It's matter of concern that a Dalit man Jago Manjhi has succumbed due to starvation in a village under Barbigha despite availing benefits under the Atyodaya scheme," the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister said.

Quoting media reporters to substantiate his allegation that Manjhi died due to starvation, Paswan asked the state government to explain as to what action it has taken against those officials responsible for running PDS in Bihar.

Whether the deceased man's family was being supplied subsidized foodgrain or not must be made public, he said and claimed that the Bihar government was lifting its hundred quota of foodgrains from the Centre under the National Food Security Act.

Demanding a judicial probe into Manjhi's death, Paswan said a central team will be reaching Patna this evening to find out implementation of the Food Security Act in Bihar.

On being told by the media persons that the Dalit man died due to illness not starvation as claimed by the state government, the LJP said the circumstances in which the 60 year-old Manjhi died was not acceptable at all and also cited the reports which had claimed that the deceased had not eaten for two days prior to his death on Friday last.

Sahni, however, said, "The deceased's family has been receiving monthly quota of 35 kg foodgrains and so no question arises about his death due to starvation....

"Manjhi had died due to certain illness for which he was admitted to a government hospital for treatment," Sahni said outside the state Assembly premises.