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Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi hits back at BJP over demand to quit

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Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday hit back at BJP, which has been demanding his resignation in the wake of the controversial appointment of his son-in-law, saying the saffron party had given important posts to people facing corruption and rape charges.

"Why shall I resign? The BJP, which is asking for my resignation, should first answer about giving important posts to people like Y S Yeduruppa and even those facing vigilance cases and rape charges," Manjhi told reporters on the sidelines of a 'Janata ke Darbar Mein Mukhya Mantri' programme at his residence.

He, however, refused to identify the BJP leader facing rape charges and vigilance cases. On the controversial appointment of his son-in-law Devendra Kumar as his Personal Assistant (PA) against rules, Manjhi accepted it was a "mistake due to lack of information" which was corrected once his attention was drawn to it.

"The chapter is closed now," he said. Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other party leaders had demanded Manjhi's resignation over the issue. 

Manjhi also rubbished reports of "differences" with his predecessor Nitish Kumar. "He is running the party (JD-U) and I am running the government," he said.

Asked if he would be part of Kumar's 'Samparak Yatra' starting from November 13, the Chief Minister said, "It's a party programme where I cannot go as a CM. But, if party workers demand my presence anywhere, I will be happy to be there."

Manjhi, who had a nearly two hour-long meeting with Kumar on November 7 amid reports of a growing distance between the two leaders, said he received "tips" from Kumar for running the government more effectively.

Dismissing reports of Kumar avoiding to share dais with him as wrong, he said Nitish could not attend some of the functions with him due to personal reasons and prior engagements.

Asked if the JD(U) and the RJD should merge in the wake of efforts to bring old the Janata parivar together, Manjhi said, "Leaders like Sharad Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar can comment on such issues, not me." He, however, stressed on an alliance between JD(U), RJD and Congress in the coming Assembly elections to repeat the performance of the recent by-elections in which they won six seats out of ten.

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