BJP fumes over ally Jitan Ram Manjhi's Lord Ram 'not god' comment
Patna, April 15: The BJP was on Friday up in arms against former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, its ally in the state, for asserting that Lord Ram was a mythical character and "not a god".
Manjhi had made the remark in Jamui district on Thursday while addressing a function held on BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary.
The ex-CM, who heads Hindustani Awam Morcha, had questioned the practice of untouchability and pointed out that as per the epic Ramayana, Lord Ram partook of fruits offered by a forest-dwelling devotee, Shabari.
Legend has it that Shabari, whom Dalits consider a cultural icon, bit every piece of the fruit to ascertain that it tasted well and Lord Rama accepted that without feeling repulsed.
"Why do the upper caste people not follow the example to shun the practice of untouchability? I don't think Lord Ram was a god. But he was a character of Valmiki's Ramayana and Ramacharitmanas penned by Goswami Tulsidas. Both works contain valuable teachings," said Manjhi who belongs to the Musahar community.
The BJP, which owes its rise to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, came out with angry rebuttals, questioning Manjhi's own faith and warning him of the damnation that shall befall him for denigrating a divine entity.
Former Deputy CM and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi said, "It is laughable to call oneself a 'vanshaj' (descendant) of Shabari but cast doubts on the existence of the one she worshipped."
State BJP spokesperson and OBC Morcha national general secretary Nikhil Anand wanted to know whether Manjhi was an atheist, and, if not, "which god does he believe in".
Manjhi has been in politics for about four decades but he owes his rise to prominence, to an extent, to the BJP.
A party-hopper who has been with the Congress, the RJD as well as the JD(U), Manjhi floated his own outfit in 2015 after revolting against Nitish Kumar who made him step down less than a year after having handpicked him for the top job.
The BJP, which was then hostile towards Kumar, put its weight behind the aging deposed CM. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's infamous "DNA" jibe against Kumar was in the context of Manjhi's unceremonious removal as CM.
Not known for measuring his words, Manjhi who has clinched a cabinet berth for his son, remains in news for utterances that the BJP finds too hot to handle.
A few months ago, he had used a cuss word against Brahmins, blown hot and cold following a backlash, and tried to bury the controversy by holding a feast in the honor of the community.
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3 killed, 15 injured in fire after blast at firecracker unit in MP's Dewas; CM orders probe
Dewas/Indore (PTI): At least three workers were killed and 15 persons injured after a fire broke out following an explosion at a firecracker factory in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district on Thursday, an official said.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the incident and ordered an investigation. The state government will provide an assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased, and the injured will receive free treatment, he said in a post on X.
Three persons were killed in the fire at the firecracker unit located in Tonk Kalan area, and around 15 injured persons were sent to hospitals in Indore and Dewas, Collector Rituraj Singh told reporters after inspecting the site.
Videos of the aftermath surfaced on social media, showing thick white smoke billowing from the factory along the Agra–Mumbai national highway. The clips also showed people rushing the injured for treatment amid cries for help, with body parts seen scattered at the site.
The collector said the fire has been brought under control. The administration has taken possession of explosives stored at another location within the unit, he said.
The work to manufacture small firecrackers at the factory of a person named Anil Malviya had begun only 15 days ago, and a licence has been issued for the unit, the collector said.
A detailed investigation is underway into the incident, he added.
CM Yadav said, "I have directed Deputy Chief Minister and Dewas district guardian minister Jagdish Devda, the home secretary and senior officials to visit the spot. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident."
Local residents said there was a massive explosion at the factory, and the victims' body parts were found scattered far away from the site.
They said construction work was underway at the site and different sheds were being built there.
