Patna, Jan 11 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Sunday courted another controversy when he held a meeting with state government officials from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
A source said Manjhi told the SC/ST officials to assert themselves to secure justice for Mahadalits and marginalised sections of the society.
After the meeting ended, Manjhi told the media: “It was a secret meeting and I will not divulge anything what we discussed.”
Manjhi also reportedly asked the officials to persuade Mahadalits to exercise their voting right and ensure that people from the caste reach polling stations during the state assembly election due later this year.
“Never before has any chief minister held a meeting of government officials of a particular caste,” said an official from the Chief Minister’s Office.
As per the 2011 census, Dalits constitute nearly 15 percent of Bihar’s 104 million population. Twenty-one of the 22 Dalit sub-castes have been recognised as Mahadalits.