PATNA: Former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) patron Jitan Ram Manjhi claimed on Wednesday that the ties between Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) would break after January 25.
Speaking to media persons, Manjhi said, “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will snap ties with RJD after January 25. Maine kaha tha khela hoga aur khela ho gaya (I said that it would be played and it was played),” he said while referring to his comments on ‘X’ on January 23.
Manjhi, who was once part of the 'Mahaghatbandan' (grand alliance) government led by Nitish Kumar, had said that people are smart enough to understand the play that is going on in Bihar.
"It is said in Bengali, 'Khela Hobe'. It is said in Magahi, 'Khela hokto'. It is said in Bhojpuri, 'Khela Hokhi'. As for the rest, you yourself are wise," the former Bihar CM had posted a cryptic post on X, leading to speculation that Nitish could once again ditch the Mahaghatbandan and join the NDA.
The HAM supremo also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had created a rift between the JD(U) and RJD — two major allies in Bihar and the ‘INDIA’ bloc at the national level — by nominating two-time chief minister and socialist icon Karpoori Thakur for 'Bharat Ratna', India's highest civilian award.
Congratulating PM Narendra Modi for this ‘historic’ decision, Manjhi said that he has become a historic figure by conferring the Bharat Ratna award on Karpoori Thakur, the true hero of the downtrodden and deprived sections of society. “It’s the right decision by the Narendra Modi government at the right time,” he added.
Manjhi also exuded confidence that PM Narendra Modi would also nominate the names of Dr Sri Krishna Sinha and Dasarth Manjhi for the Bharat Ratna award posthumously.
"Lalu ji was in the UPA government for 10 years, at that time he was so powerful that if he wanted, he could have got himself honored with the title of “Bharat Ratna”, but he did nothing. Well, Modi is there, everyone's dream will be fulfilled, mountain man Dashrath Manjhi and Dr. Shri Krishna Singh will also be honored because if Modi is there then it is possible," he wrote on X.
Manjhi said that PM Modi has won the hearts of millions of poor by giving this honour to Karpoori Thakur.
The HAM patron quipped that Karpoori did not promot his family members as he was against dynastic rule and added, "some people feel elated after promoting their family members", in a thinly veiled attack on Lalu Prasad and his son Tejashwi.
