New Delhi: Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader and former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has alleged conspiracy of poisoning the current chief minister, Nitish Kumar, in an attempt to seize the coveted seat.
“It looks like, as per a conspiracy, someone is giving food with some poisonous substance in it to him (Nitish Kumar) to claim his (CM) seat. The result of it was the statement he made about women and the words he used against me yesterday,” Manjhi told reporters in Patna.
Manjhi and Kumar were engaged in a verbal spat a day before in the Bihar Legislative Assembly during a debate on reservation bills.
Manjhi, while expressing support for expanding reservation quotas, raised concerns about the inadequate representation of Scheduled Castes among gazetted officers, pointing out that it stands at just 3% despite a 15% reservation for years. He called for a comprehensive review of the impact of reservation, citing the roster system in place since 1971.
However, Kumar vehemently interrupted Manjhi, berating him for his previous term in office. “Who made you the CM? I was a fool to make you CM. This man has no sense, no idea. I committed a mistake to make him CM,” Kumar exclaimed, prompting protests from BJP legislators who accused Kumar of disrespecting a Dalit leader.
Despite calls for calm, Kumar continued his tirade against Manjhi, suggesting that the former CM harboured ambitions to become the Governor. “Now, he is rallying around you, as he wants to become the Governor. Make him the Governor. Why don’t you make him? His family members are also annoyed with him. His community members are also upset with him. He was earlier in the Congress. He is good for nothing,” Kumar declared, pointing to the BJP.
Manjhi later said the JD(U) leader had forgotten basic decency and lost his mental balance.
