Jumping in the controversy created by Bihar education minister Chandrasekhar’s statement, former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday objected to some lines in the Hindu epic Ramcharitmanas and demand their removal.
For the uninitiated, in early January, Chandrasekhar, who belongs to Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), raked up a controversy by demanding the removal of certain verses of the epic which is based on the life of Lord Ram.
The RJD leader’s statement has created a sharp divide within the ruling grand alliance government in Bihar, with many leaders of ally Janata Dal-United (JDU) asserting that such “unnecessary comments” will hurt the party in the next parliamentary and state elections.
Speaking to media persons in Patna, Manjhi – who heads the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HUM) – objected to a verse, which he said, demeans women.