Will continue to speak my mind, says Manjhi

Ignoring warnings and advice of his party JD-U over his controversial remarks in recent days, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Sunday said that he will not bow before anyone and he would continue to speak as usual.

Manjhi also hinted that his days as chief minister are numbered and he may be removed in November itself.

"I am not going to bow before any one and would continue to speak as usual to express my views before the people," he said at a function of Scheduled Caste/Tribal doctors here.

Without naming anyone, Manjhi said that he is more knowledgeable than those advising him not to speak. "I am simply trying to communicate with the people in their language. There is nothing unusual in it," he said, making it clear he will not bow before pressure not to speak his mind.

Manjhi's comments came a a day after Janata Dal-United state chief Vashsisht Narain Singh advised him to avoid making such comments that create unnecessary controversy. Singh Saturday said that party president Sharad Yadav and general secretary and national spokesperson K.C. Tyagi had asked Manjhi not to make controversial statements.

Manjhi had earlier denied that he was warned by his party over his controversial remarks.

A recent remark that the upper caste people were foreigners and scheduled caste and scheduled tribe people were indigenous had got him in trouble as several party legislators, belonging to the upper castes, demanded his removal.