Manjhi says critical remark on upper castes was meant to encourage tribals

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who has stirred a controversy with his remark that the upper caste people are foreigners and tribals and dalits are indigenous people, on Thursday clarified that he made the statement to encourage tribals to become a part of mainstream society and contribute towards development of the nation.

"It is not about forward caste or backward caste. I told tribal people that they have lost their identity because of ignorance; they are the natives of this land, so wake up and be a part of development. They have to step up and move forward," Manjhi said.

He said that people who have come to India from other regions and settled here long back are not enemies of the native people.

"People have come from other regions, but that doesn't mean that they are our enemies. They have been living here for hundreds of years and have become part of this land but when it comes to natives it is us, the tribal people and scheduled caste people," he said.

He further said that if someone has a problem with what he has said then they can clarify it with the historians.

"People who have problems with what I have said can ask the historians about this. I urge historians to tell people who are natives of this land," he added.

Earlier, speaking at a function in Bettiah, Manjhi had said the upper caste people are foreigners and only tribals and Dalits are indigenous people.

Manjhi, who took over as the Bihar Chief Minister in May this year, had after the Dussehra stampede at Patna's Gandhi Maidan said that he would cut off the hands of those found playing with the lives of the poor.

Manjhi, who was picked by Janata Dal (United) leader and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for the top post, had earlier courted controversy for his off-the-cuff remarks. Manjhi had earlier in September said that his government would forgive the small traders, who indulge in black marketing worth a small amount so that their children get education.