Marry outside caste to increase your population, Bihar CM advises Dalits

, Aug 23:

Chief Minister

courted a controversy on Friday by remarking that the Dalits should concentrate on increasing their numbers by marrying outside their castes, a Headlines Today report said.

Manjhi said if the Dalits succeeded in increasing their population count from 16 to 22 per cent through inter-caste marriage, then the community will rule the state. "If we make up 22 per cent of the population and get those votes, nobody else but us will be in power in the state," Manjhi said at a public function.

The Bihar CM belongs to the most backward Mushahar caste of Dalits

The chief minister, the JD(U) politician who hails from the most backward Mushahar caste of Dalits and succeeded Nitish Kumar as the chief minister after he quit in May, came to the headlines recently for accusing the previous government of Nitish Kumar of failing to check corruption and also defending his son who allegedly misused his father's position to seek a luxury hotel suite to spend time with a female companion, who is a policewoman.

Manjhi faced flak from various quarters for defending his son.

Oneindia News