Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has stirred yet another storm with his statement that small traders and businessman who do hoarding and black marketing for the welfare of their family will not be penalised for such activities. The Government should catch the “crocodiles” and not the “small fishes” for black money.
“I am aware that small traders and businessman indulge in hoarding and black marketing of goods to make profit in order to sustain their families and educate their children but they should not worry about their activities as the State Government will not punish them”, said Jitan Ram Manjhi while addressing a function organised by Bihar State Foodgrain Businessmen’s Association on Tuesday.
The Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh who also was present in the function, appeared bemused at the Bihar Chief Minister’s statement.He did not stop even there and said that he would rather thank those small-time traders and businessman for doing such activities for education of their children.
“Bihar ke mukhia hone ke nate main aapko viswas dilata hun ki aap ke khilaf koi karwai nahi hogi bulki main to apko dhanyabad dena chahunga iske liye”, said Manjhi amid loud clapping from the assembled small time traders.
“I must say that hoarding and black marketing by the small traders have had no impact on demand and supply of goods in market as the quantity of goods being hoarded by the traders was insignificant in volume”, said the Bihar chief minister who, of late, has been embarrassing not only his government but also to his predecessor Nitish Kumar through his frivolous statements.
Manjhi further said that the Government should catch the “crocodiles” and not the “small fishes” for hoarding, black marketing and black money. “We’re after the biggies, the crocodiles involved in such unlawful activities. The small fish can grown and prosper into big ones”, said Manjhi.“Through hoarding and black marketing you may be earning Rs3,000 to 4,000 but what about those who have stashed black money to the amount of Rs3,000-4,000 crore in foreign banksIJ”, asked the Bihar Chief Minister while adding that they should be caught first.
He also took a dig on the BJP government at the Centre saying “they had declared that coming to Government they would bring back the black money stashed in foreign banks in three months. What has happened to that promiseIJ”.
Significantly, the Bihar Chief Minister’s statement has come at a time when the Central Government has asked the State Governments to crack down on hoarders and black-marketeers to rein in price rise and inflation in the country.