Two days after the heightened speculations in media over his removal from the post, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday warned media persons of litigation if they practised “irresponsible journalism”. Mr. Manjhi also stressed the need for land reforms in the State and asked land revenue officials to act according to their “conscience” in addressing poor people’s concerns.
“On speculations of my removal, the media has been reporting irresponsibly for the past few days, which has created a crisis. I would like to warn those journalists not to quote my name in such fabricated news or they would be dragged to the court,” said Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, addressing a meeting at Jehanabad.
For the last two days, after senior Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar left for Delhi to meet party president Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, there has been media reports on speculation in the State’s political corridors about the fate of Mr. Manjhi.
Party leaders Nitish Kumar, Sharad Yadav and Lalu Prasad have, on their part, been denied any move to remove Mr. Manjhi.
Meanwhile, speaking at the inauguration of a daylong seminar of the Bihar Land Tribunal in Patna, the Chief Minister also stressed on the need for land reforms in the State and asked the land revenue officials to act as per their conscience while dealing with the poor people.
“Today, Bihar needs land reforms and land-related cases must be disposed of effectively and at faster pace,” said Mr. Manjhi, adding that it was because of the long-pending land disputes, Naxalism, nepotism and animosity in society.
