Journalism of Courage
Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi floated his political front — Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) — Saturday, a day before Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is scheduled to address JD(U)’s booth-level workers at Gandhi Maidan here.
The former chief minister, who seems to have taken a cue from Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), settled for a pan-Indian name for his front rather than making it sound Dalit or Bihar-centric. Manjhi may press for a political party using the acronym ‘HAM’. He indicated as much when he said “the HAM would be a bigger political factor than the AAP”.
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Announcing the launch of his front at SKM Hall here in presence of his supporters — which included seven former ministers and eight suspended JD(U) legislators — Manjhi played up “Dalit insult” factor, saying the affluent had been in the habit of insulting the poor. “Garib kisi jaati ka ho, sampanna log uska apmaan hi karte hain. Jab tak main Nitishji ko ji sir, ji sir kahta tha, bas thik tha (irrespective of which caste a poor person comes from, he is always insulted by an affluent person. So long as I had been a yes man to Nitish, everything was fine),” Manjhi said, adding that had he continued to listen to Kumar, he would have remained CM till the assembly election.
Manjhi, who was expelled from the JD(U) for defying Kumar, said he had been “remote-controlled”. “I worked only for 12 days and took my decisions. Nitishji took all decisions of my government till February 7 (the day Nitish was chosen as JD(U) legislature party leader).”
Manjhi plans to tour the state to tell people “how he was insulted as he was a Dalit leader”. Former ministers Narendra Singh, Brishen Patel, Nitish Mishra, Mahachandra Prasad Singh and other disgruntled JD(U) leaders have been galvanising support for Manjhi to create their cadre.
“At times, I regret my decision (of challenging Nitish) but there comes the question of Dalit pride. I will go to people to tell my stories,” Manjhi said. He has been joined by Kushwaha leader and former RJD vice-president Shakuni Choudhary.
Former minister Nitish Mishra told The Indian Express: “Floating a political front is the first step. Manjhi will go to people. The ground is ready for us.”
