"I do not see any wrong in what they (Maoists) are doing by collecting levy from contractors engaged in building roads, community buildings and other government works," Manjhi told reporters after "Janata ke Darbar me Mukhya Mantri" weekly programme at his residence.
Manjhi was speaking to the media after his public interaction programme during which a shoe was flung at him today by a youth but missed its mark and fell at his side.
Asked if he would invite Maoists for talks, he said, "Why not? Many CMs and even leaders like Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan met them and exhorted them to shun guns and return to the mainstream of society."
He answered in the negative when asked if his assertions would demoralise security forces fighting the rebels.
Manjhi said about three years ago when he was a minister in the erstwhile Nitish Kumar Cabinet, some people claiming to be Maoists had met him to justify their demanding 'levy' from contractors.
"They said if a work is actually worth Rs 3-4 lakh an estimate of around Rs 11 lakh is given so that a profit of almost Rs 7-8 lakh is made out of the low quality work," Manjhi said.
"I did not see anything wrong in Maoists taking Rs 1 lakh from the contractors which still left them with a profit of about Rs 6 lakh," he said.
Asked about his comment yesterday at Munger that ministers do not listen to him, the chief minister blamed the media for twisting facts.