Manjhi shares dais with Nitish, says he is Laxman

JEHANABAD/ARWAL/ BIHARSHARIF: Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and his predecessor Nitish Kumar finally shared dais after more than two months on Tuesday to dispel reports of differences between them and launched a blistering attack on BJP. The two were together at the JD(U) political meet as part of 'Sampark Yatra' .
Their sharing the dais is seen as a major event amidst reports suggesting ‘growing differences' between them in the wake of Manjhi making remarks which signalled his attempts to carve out a chance to be chief minister after the 2015 Assembly poll.
Making a brief speech sans any controversial remarks, CM Manjhi thanked former CM Nitish Kumar for installing him as his successor. “Nitish could have made another choice as he wielded absolute majority in the state assembly but reposed faith in me proposing my name for CM. Nitishji continues to be our indisputed leader. I am just playing the role of Laxman,” he said adding, “No doubt I come from a very poor family but I do not betray anyone (hum garib ho sakte hain lekin beiman nahin)”.He said he is only accelerating the development and welfare works initiated by Nitishji. Harping on the same old BJP bashing, Nitish criticised the BJP for attempting to fuel social disharmony in the society by spreading falsehood and lies. He slammed PM Narendra Modi for his double speak saying the BJP and its leaders are expert in rumour mongering.
Accusing PM of going back on his poll promises like bringing back black money and hiking incentives to farmers he said the Centre is discriminating against Bihar. Admitting that there may have been lack of communication between the government and the party during the past few years, Nitish said the ‘Sampark Yatra’ undertaken by him is aimed at bridging the gap, if any, between the two. Addressing a meeting on Shram Kalyan Maidan at Biharsharif on Tuesday, Nitish said youth and farmers of the country are trapped in false promises made by Narendra Modi and his party. He said Modi had made tall promise of providing government jobs to unemployed youth of the country but the reality is that he blocked all appointments.
He said the farmers are taken for a ride when they were assured a hike in minimum support price (MSP) for grains but the Centre not only backed out but also directed the state governments to stop additional bonus to the farmers on produce to protect private players. Nitish told JD(U) workers that it is high time to rise to the occasion and expose BJP's false promises.