CM rubbishes BJP’s claims about cracks in JD (U)

PATNA: Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday rubbished the BJP statement regarding cracks in JD (U) ranks, but reiterated that he would support the BJP if the central government accords special status to Bihar.
Reacting to the recent statement of Bihar BJP chief Mangal Pandey who alleged that cracks had developed in the JD (U) rank and file, Manjhi said the saffron party was daydreaming.He was talking to newsmen after the National Press Day function on Sunday.
Pandey on Saturday said Bihar would get special status and special package provided Nitish announces his faith in Narendra Modi leadership. Pandey said Nitish's ‘sampark yatra’ suffered a jolt as Muzaffarpur district JD (U) president Ashok Sharma, a radiologist, joined the BJP with some other office-bearers of the district unit the same day Nitish was there. He said four out of five JD (U) MLAs from Muzaffarpur district were in touch with the BJP and could change sides in the near future.
Regarding his recent statement on the upper caste people as “foreigners and descendants of Aryan race”, Manjhi said people should understand the background of the statement made. The CM said he had tried to boost the morale of the Tharu population that had been marginalized for decades after Independence. Regarding his statement about upper castes, Manjhi said it was based on historical facts. “I’m firm on my statement,” he told the media. “I didn’t say anything wrong. He quoted several historians including R S Sharma in support of his statement.