Patna: A hardline Hindutva leader has been expelled from the party after he announced a bounty of Rs1.1 million for chopping off the tongue of a Dalit (member of the lowest caste) politician Jitan Ram Manjhi who is accused of using derogatory remarks against the Brahmins and refusing to accept Ram as a god. Manjhi, a former chief minister, is currently a part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar.
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled Gajendra Jha from the party as he refused to take back his words. “Your unbecoming statement has damaged the party. You are hereby expelled from the party with immediate effect,” BJP leader Shankar Jha said in his letter to Gajendra Jha.
Gajendra Jha who also happens to be the general secretary of International Hindu Mahasabha Gajendra had on Tuesday announced a reward of Rs1.1 million to anyone who chops off the tongue of Manjhi. “I will also bear expenses for this person for his entire life,” he had declared.
Jha alleged the Dalit leader had been repeatedly insulting the Brahmins and Ram by making disparaging remarks against them. “We initially thought Manjhi is a mentally sick person but are now alarmed to see him making abusive and derogatory remarks against Brahmins at regular intervals. He needs to be punished,” Jha said, adding he was ready to die in a bid to save Hindu religion.
The Dalit politician who currently heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) remains the target of attacks despite the fact that he has expressed regret over his remarks but he states that certain portion of his statement was cut to create unnecessary controversy.
Manjhi’s party has reacted strongly to the announcement of such a reward by a Hindu leader. “Who has the guts to cut off the tongue of our leader? The BJP leadership should keep its leaders under control or be ready to face the consequences,” HAM spokesperson Danish Rizwan said. He said they fail to understand why unnecessary controversy was being created when Manjhi has already apologized for his remark.
The whole controversy was created after Manjhi expressed annoyance over the way the priests coming to conduct worship in the houses of Dalits have refused to eat food being offered by them although they have no qualms in accepting money from their hands.
“Now a days, Dalits are getting more inclined towards religion which was not the case earlier. What is shocking, the Brahmins come to our house, conduct prayers but they do not eat our food in our homes. They shamelessly demand money instead of eating food,” Manjhi said, addressing a function meant for Dalit community villagers in Patna on Saturday. He added that the poor, innocent villagers were being exploited in the name of religion.
Manjhi also refused to believe Ram, the principal deity of Hindus, as god and described him as a “fictional” character. “I do not believe in Ram. He was not a person. He is an imaginary character. The Ramayana was written. It has many lines that are to be read and understood. We also discuss it at times but I am not ready to accept Ram as god,” he added.
The problem for Manjhi is not over. At least 12 cases have been filed against the Dalit leader in the court for his remarks against the Brahmins. The first case was filed in the Betia court in which Manjhi has been accused of hurting sentiments of the Brahmin community with his repeated remarks against them.
Another case was filed in Gopalganj district wherein the complainant alleged that Manjhi intended to spread hatred in the society and undermine the image of the community which mainly survives on performing religious rituals. The third complaint was filed in the Samastipur court. According to the advocate who filed the complaint in the court, the complainant was so shocked after going through the derogatory statement of Manjhi that he had a mild stroke and was advised rest by doctors. Other cases were filed in Patna, Siwan, Chapra courts
