I may be toppled for my bid to stop loot: Manjhi

GAYA/BANKA: A day after the ‘dinner diplomacy’ by pro-Nitish Kumar ministers, fuelling speculations of attempts being made to replace Jitan Ram Manjhi by another dalit, the chief minister on Thursday roared back claiming to be a better performer than his mentor. Eighteen ministers owing allegiance to Nitish had attended a dinner meeting at Shyam Rajak’s residence on Wednesday night.
In an apparent reference to Nitish regime, Manjhi said they could not spend more than 30% to 45% of the budgetary allocation.“But, a poor man Manjhi managed to spend 58% of the budget on welfare works,” he thundered at a function in Banka. Manjhi said his efforts to stop “the loot of government funds pained some people who were working overtime to oust me. I am getting things done in Rs2 crore against Rs10 crore spent for the same by the earlier governments”.
Senior minister Narendra Singh spoke for Manjhi and asked the people to support him to continue as CM. Rajak was also present on the dais.
But, hours later, Manjhi took a U-turn at Gaya and appealed to people to get ready to fight assembly elections under Nitish’s leadership.
Manjhi also praised the Centre for being benevolent towards the state and declaring Gaya as a heritage city. Without naming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manjhi hoped the Union government would continue to play a positive role in bringing Bihar on the development map of the country.
Inaugurating the 17th Buddha Mahotsava at Kalchakra Maidan in Bodh Gaya, Manjhi said he should not be misunderstood as right things done by others should be praised. He showed more warmth for local MP Hari Manjhi, MLA Shyamdeo Paswan and Gaya town MLA Prem Kumar, all from BJP, than for his own party legislators.
Hari and Paswan also praised the CM for taking the Buddha Mahotsava to a new height. Tourism minister Javed Iqbal Ansari, however, acknowledged former CM Nitish Kumar's contribution and said the event was just the continuation of the good things done by him.
Local RJD functionaries created ruckus alleging that they were ignored in the seating arrangements.