PATNA: Bihar’s JD(U) chief and former CM Nitish Kumar seems to has fallen into a caste trap. The recent conversion of 40 “Mahadalit” families to Christianity at Atiya village near Bodh Gaya and then their denying it was not a solitary case in Bihar. A large number of Mahadalits had converted to Christianity in 2008 and 10 from the village. Meanwhile the Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has expressed strong displeasure over the slow pace of work by Savrna Aayog (Upper Castes Commission).It was constituted by the then Nitish Kumar government in January 2011 to identify the deprived and underprivileged families among Upper Castes.
Only few days back five persons belonging to extremely backward castes—all residents of Borhaiya village under Buddhuchak police station area in Bhagalpur district—converted to Christianity and then backtracked. Police investigation by ASP Niraj Kumar Singh noted that no religious conversion took place according to a written denial by the people concerned.
However, they missionaries had promised them help for treatment of their ailments. Meanwhile, the angry Dalit CM told Principal Secretary of General Administration Department D S Gangwar to task over the fact that the Savrna Aayog has spent over `15 crore so far but has not written even a line of report. A group of ruling JD(U) legislators had complained to Manjhi on functioning of the Commission.
While inaugurating several schemes in Jehanabad district last week, the CM had said that he would provide all facilities of SCs, STs and OBCs to the economically weaker section of the Upper Castes even before the Savrna Aayog submits its final report.
The confusion of conversion reflects a clear motive by the poor to get free medical treatment and free education for children, because the progressive schemes that brought Nitish Kumar to power have floundered under poor administration, corruption and lack of solitical will. Asked on recent “Ghar wapsi” move by RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad some converts in Atiya reportedly demanded free education, health facilities and employment from saffron leaders who along with Gaya BJP MP Hari Manjhi visited them.
Nitish had to do a volte face by saying that conversion of Mahadalits to Christianity is their fundamental right, taking an almost diametrically opposite stand on “Ghar Wapsi” move of RSS which he denounced. Most conversions are reported from dalits and OBCs. It may make political sense for Nitish to abandon Bihar’s upper caste voters.