Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief and Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in the Modi Cabinet, Jitan Ram Manjhi, on Tuesday, expressed his frustration over the lack of representation for his party in the upcoming Jharkhand elections. Addressing the Bhuiyan-Musahar conference in Munger, Manjhi threatened to quit the Cabinet, accusing the NDA of neglecting his party despite strong public support.
Manjhi questioned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) decision to deny his party a seat in Jharkhand, despite having a significant voter base and successful public rallies. He emphasized that his demand for seats was not for personal gain, but for the betterment of the Dalit community.
“I have only one question: If our public support is strong and the crowds are coming to our programs, then why are we being denied seats? This is not for our benefit, but for the benefit of the Dalits,” Manjhi said.
In a more direct statement, Manjhi remarked that his exit from the Modi Cabinet seemed imminent unless his party was given fair representation. He also highlighted his previous work as Chief Minister of Bihar, where he implemented the decision to provide land to landless Dalits, underscoring his commitment to their welfare.
“I have to ask this question – is this justice? Do we not exist?” he said, expressing dissatisfaction over the treatment of his party.