This Article is From Jan 08, 2015

Bihar Chief Minister's New Defence: A Song from Movie 'Anari'

Bihar Chief Minister's New Defence: A Song from Movie 'Anari'

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi sang a few lines from the film "Awara".

Patna: In the most creative defence of his controversial statements over the last few months, Bihar Chief  Minister JItan Ram Manjhi sang a few lines from the film "Anari" at a function today: "Sab kucha sikha maine na sikhi hosiyari , sach hain duniya walon hum hain anari (I have learnt everything except how to be clever, I am just a novice)".

The defence comes amid renewed speculation over his fate.

Today, Mr Manjhi's predecessor Nitish Kumar and the chief of his party, Janata Dal (United), Sharad Yadav, are meeting in Delhi. While the official reason for the meeting is the proposed merger of the erstwhile Janta parties, sources say an intense discussion is also on the cards about Mr Manjhi.
The grand alliance between the JD(U), Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is all the more likely to affect  Mr Manjhi's fate. There is speculation that a change of chief ministership may be demanded by even Lalu in the lead up to the assembly polls in Bihar later this year.

Before leaving for Delhi, Mr Kumar deepened the mystery over Mr Manjhi's fate. "I don't have to go to Delhi to take a decision on Bihar, he said, and then added, "Who am I to give the assurance on whether Manjhiji will remain (in the post) or not."

Mr Manjhi rejected the speculation that Mr Kumar and the RJD chief might think of replacing him. They had given the responsibility of running the government to him, he said.

Handpicked by Nitish Kumar for the top job in Bihar a few months ago, Mr Manjhi has repeatedly embarrassed Mr Kumar and the party with his indiscrete comments on a range of issues.   

But he has repeatedly brushed aside any suggestion that his statements are controversial, saying he is not a crafty politician and speaks his mind.

On one occasion, he had even said he was too old to learn. "Boodha suga pos nahi manta hai (Old parrots never learn)," he had said.
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