Muristek
Bihar ex-CM Jitan Ram Manjhi calls Lord Ram ‘imaginary character’, triggers row
Patna, April 15
Triggering a row, president of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, while speaking at an event in Jamui district to mark Ambedkar Jayanti, said: "I don't believe Ram was God. Ram is a character created by Tulsidas and Valmiki to spread their message."
On September 22 last year, Manjhi had sparked a controversy by calling Lord Ram a historic figure "who is just a character in a mythological story."
At the event in Sikandra, Manjhi also said: "Those who perform puja at other's houses do not become big people. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes should stop puja in their houses. You cannot achieve religious merit by inviting Brahmins to your house for puja."
Reacting to Manjhi's remarks, Rashtriya Janata Dal state unit chief Jagadanand Singh observed: "I can't understand why Manjhi repeatedly makes statements on Lord Ram. We worship Lord Ram. He is the creator of the universe. Why do some people use his name to create controversy and provoke communal tension?"
He claimed Manjhi was deliberately making such statements at someone's bidding "to target the saffron brigade." — IANS