Cabinet expansion: Manjhi attacks Narendra Modi, says PM doing injustice to Bihar

Patna, Nov 10: Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing injustice to Bihar by giving less important portfolios to three newly-inducted union ministers from it and ignoring the demand of according special status to the state.

"Modi has done injustice to Bihar by demoting senior BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy as he was inducted as union minister of state. In fact, he was cabinet minister in the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he told reporters a day after three BJP MPs from the state were inducted in Modi's ministry.

He said Modi inducted half a dozen new faces like Smriti Irani as cabinet minister but Rudy was made union minister of state despite his longer experience. "Is it not injustice to Bihar," he asked.

Similarly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Patliputra MP Ram Kripal Yadav was inducted as union minister of state.

"The portfolios given to them are not going to help Bihar. How can they contribute towards the development of their own state," Manjhi asked.

He said Modi has promised special status to Bihar but betrayed the state after getting overwhelming support from the people during the Lok Sabha polls.

"Modi has not only forgotten it (promise), but his government is also discriminating in providing funds meant for the development and implementation of welfare schemes," he said.

Manjhi also refuted reports of differences between him and former chief minister Nitish Kumar. "I have no difference with Nitish Kumar. In fact, there was never a difference between us," he said on being asked about his differences with Nitish Kumar.

He said: "I am heading the state government and Nitish Kumar is looking after the JD-U affairs. Both of us are working together."

The reports of "differences" between Manjhi and Nitish Kumar started doing the rounds after Manjhi made some remarks which indicated that he was keen on having a second term as chief minister after the 2015 assembly polls. He later denied the reports.

IANS