Manoj Jha rebuts PM’s dalit remarks

New Delhi

RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha on Saturday dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks accusing RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav of disrespecting Dalit icon Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, calling the allegations “laughable.”

Addressing a rally in Siwan, Bihar on Friday, PM Modi had accused the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of undermining Ambedkar’s legacy and fostering a “jungle raj” in the state through dynastic politics. He alleged that RJD and its allies had hindered Bihar’s progress by prioritizing family over governance.

Responding to the accusations, Jha said, “Sometimes the Prime Minister says laughable things. Perhaps the intent is to entertain people. But the person he is attacking has dedicated his life to following Babasaheb Ambedkar’s ideals.”

Jha also questioned the Prime Minister’s silence when Union Home Minister Amit Shah allegedly made disparaging comments about Ambedkar in Parliament. “Shah had said, ‘Ambedkar, Ambedkar… If someone took God’s name this often, they’d have reached heaven.’ That day, the Prime Minister said nothing. Why the selective outrage now?” he asked.

Further criticizing Modi’s symbolic gestures, Jha remarked on the blue scarf the Prime Minister wore in Bihar, which had a saffron stripe. “That scarf suddenly became too heavy when you reached Odisha and was taken off before Lord Jagannath. Why? Did it become burdensome?” he questioned. PM Modi’s Bihar visit also included inaugurating and laying the foundation for development projects worth ₹5,200 crore. He reiterated that Bihar would play a pivotal role in India’s rise as the world’s third-largest economy