Opposition should look at crime situation in Bihar before 2005: Jitan Ram Manjhi hits out at RJD on Nawada incident

Patna (Bihar) [India], September 19 (ANI): Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi hit out at the opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal over their allegation that the ruling government was trying to mislead the people on the incident of arson in the State's Nawada district and said that the opposition should look at the crime situation in the state before 2005.
Ram Manjhi said, "The opposition has no right to say anything. They should look at the crime situation in the state before 2005. There is a land dispute in Nawada and a court case is also going on. Two castes under the SC category were living on that land which spans 12-14 acres. The land mafias had their eyes on that land. The occupants of that land filed a case against the land mafia. The case was ongoing when the mafias burned down the houses of the SC community and burned 40-50 houses. One man has died."
He further said that the land mafias want to scare away the villagers so that the lands can be grabbed and sold.
"I have talked to the SP and Collector and relief work is going on. 15 people have been arrested so far and others will be arrested soon. Compensation will be given to the victims. I will do a spot inspection on 22 September and demand that all the people be given houses under the PMAY," he further said.
Bihar legislative assembly Leader of Opposition and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday criticised Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's remarks over the incident of arson in the State's Nawada district accusing him and his son of following the "RSS school" of thought.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader also slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government and said that the BJP in the power at the Centre and in the State, and they should take action against the cuprits.
Responding to Jitan Ram Manjhi's allegation that 90 per cent of those involved in the incident were RJD supporters and were from a particular caste, Tejashwi Yadav said, "He (Jitan Ram Manjhi) and his son have studied in RSS's school. Whatever the BJP and RSS tells him he gives a statement based on that. Who is in power right now? They are in the government both at the Centre and in the state. They should take action against the culprits, who is stopping them? Tejashwi said.
Union Minister Manjhi, in a post on social media platform X said, "There is a strange drama of the opposition in our country. The opposition people first get the Dalits tortured and then turns the incident into an issue and raises questions on the working style of the government. 90 per cent of the people arrested in the Nawada incident belong to a particular caste and are RJD supporters. Will Rahul Gandhi now say something on this or will he remain silent?"
In a shocking incident on the night of September 18, about 20-25 houses were set on fire by unidentified miscreants in the Mufassil Police Station area in Krishnanagar in Nawada district.
Providing crucial details on the arson incident Nawada Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDO) Akhilesh Kumar on Thursday confirmed that atleast 15 people have been arrested in the case.
According to Sunil Kumar, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Sadar Nawada, initial investigations suggest that a land dispute may be the primary cause behind the arson incident. (ANI)