Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi at SC/ST Doctors meet in Patna on Sunday. (Press Trust of India)
Rebelling against suggestions by Janata Dal (United) leadership to rein in his speech, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today said he will do what he wants and "will not take anybody's advice".
"What I have been saying and doing, I will keep doing it. I am not weak or lesser in ability to those who are giving me suggestions. I will not take anybody's advice," Mr Manjhi said, speaking after inaugurating a meeting of doctors in Patna.
Stating that he was not worried about the situation, Mr Manjhi said he was ready to go down, but not ready to bow down.
His reaction came three days after JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, general secretary K C Tyagi and state president Vashistha Narayan Singh advised him to stay away from making controversial remarks as such statements only hurt the organisation and could be distorted and used by the BJP for its own benefit.
Mr Manjhi reiterated that he knew he would be able to retain it only till November next year when Assembly election was due, and also understood that his "chair" could be pulled away any time before that.
Stating that he was not worried about it, Mr Manjhi said till the time he was the Chief Minister, "only those things will happen, which I think and wish".
Mr Manjhi's controversial remarks have embarrassed his party, the JD(U).
Mr Manjhi had recently said during a speech that he was ready to say "Prime Minister Narendra Modi Zindabad" if the Centre grants 'special category state' status to Bihar.