Manjhi questions Modi's sincerity on black money issue, accuses PM of betraying people's faith

Patna, Nov 17: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi today questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "sincerity" on the black money issue and accused him of "betraying" people's faith.

"Hawa bazzi kar rahe hai aur kuch nahi kala dhan ke mamle me (he is just plying to the gallery and not doing anything concrete on issue of black money)," Manjhi told reporters after "Janata Ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri" programme.

"After being slammed by the Supreme Court, a list of 627 persons having account in foreign banks was submitted but it came out that more than half of the accounts had no money," he said in support of his argument.

Asked that leaders of G20 countries have backed the PM on black money, Manjhi said "was this (raising the issue at International platform) he had promised to the people?"

The Bihar Chief Minister also made a scathing attack at the Prime Minister for not fulfilling promise of providing special category status to the state.

In reply to a question that condition of Dalits remain poor in Bihar despite all claims of starting schemes for them, Manjhi said "its true that the pace with which benefits of such schemes should have been delivered to dalits has not been achieved. But, JD(U) government since times of Nitish Kumar is sincerely trying to accelerate the speed."

Manjhi attributed controversy regarding his statement on upper caste foreign origin to "misinterpretation" of facts and said how come he could call them foreigners when they are living in the country for more than 1,000 years.

On report card his government would be presenting on November 25, he said it would highlight continuation of work since his predecessor Nitish Kumar times.

"I am following road map of development of Bihar prepared by Nitish Kumar with a small addition here and there," he said.

PTI