The Jitan Ram Manjhi episode, which is turning ugly every day, has not only divided the ruling JD(U) but also caused social tension in the State. The Scheduled Caste society by and large is up in arms across the State in support of Manjhi, who belongs to Musahar or rat eating community, and is accusing the JD(U) leadership particularly former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the insult being heaped on a Mahadalit. The JD(U) leaders in Manjhi’s camp, BJP and its allies are also blaming Nitish and terming him anti-Dalit. Reports are arriving here forprotests in support of Manjhi including from Nitish’s native village Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda district. The protestors are also burning effigies of Nitish.
It is widely suspected that the Dalits and Mahadalits in Bihar comprising 15per cent of the population may turn against not only the JD(U) but also the RJD which is supporting Nitish in the Manjhi removal campaign, this despite the fact that most of the MlAs coming from this society are pledging allegiance to Nitish.
Still there is apprehension that the mobilisation of the Scheduled Castes by Nitish during his over eight years of rule and categorising the poorest among them as Mahadalit might be adversely affected post Manjhi’s removal. When Manjhi was handpicked by Nitish in May 2014 who offered him his chair, there had been only stray reports of jubilation over the first ever crowning of a Musahar but amid the attempts of his removal the Dalit society has united to oppose the JD(U) move and sees it as a conspiracy hatched by the leaders of upper and intermediary castes.
“Manjhi has consolidated his position undoubtedly and emerged as a big leader of deprived and disadvantaged class by showing real concern for them,” said retired bureaucrat A K Biswas. It is undeniable fact that Manjhi during his eight months rule created a niche for himself in his society which he never could even being a Minister for a longer period.
Biswas, also a former vice chancellor of Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur said one big credit that goes to Manjhi is that he erased division of Dalit and Mahadalit created by Nitish and which was aimed to sideline only Paswan caste for political reasons because of former CM’s political rivalry with Ram Vilas Paswan. Manjhi had recently announced that he would include Paswan caste in Mahadalit category.
The Manjhi controversy gave opportunity to leaders of BJP and its allies to forcefully raise the issue of the insult of Mahdalit by Nitish. “After heaping insult on Mahdalit CM of his own party, Nitish is ready to go to any extent to remove him. He never allowed Manjhi to work independently,” said senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi. He asked who was responsible for the social tension as Dalits are feeling deeply hurt and hitting the streets. The stress of other BJP leaders is also the humiliation of a Mahadalit.
lJP supremo and Union Minister of Food and Consumer Affairs Ram Vilas Paswan said, “Nitish and lalu have joined hands to humiliate a Mahadalit. This society will never forgive them and avenge in the Assembly election.” Biswas also feels that Dalits who never voted for the BJP may go for BJP and its allies because, as he said, “the poor people who have nothing to eat and wear may throw away the ideologies which did not provide them bread.”