Since taking over as Bihar Chief Minister in May this year, Jitan Ram Manjhi has been accused by the Opposition of being a “puppet” and a “remote-controlled chief minister”.
However, the firmness with which he handled the aftermath of the Patna stampede, in which 33 people were killed and many others injured, it would seem Mr. Manjhi has begun asserting himself.
A day after the stampede, Mr. Manjhi replaced all top district officials in charge of the Dussehra celebrations at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan.
When there were serial bomb blasts during Narendra Modi’s Hunkar rally in October 2013 at the same venue, no such action was taken by the then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Earlier, when altogether 18 people were killed in a similar stampede during Chhath festival in November 2012 Nitish Kumar had not taken any such action against any official. Similarly, no action was taken after the Bodh Gaya bomb blast.
Nitish Kumar, significantly, had given a clean chit to the administration after the incidents. Although he had constituted committees to probe the incidents, their reports have been not been made public.
Even as his move caused surprise among the State administration, Mr. Manjhi went further. He presented a tough posture two days after he visited the Patna Medical College Hospital and, finding serious lapses by the doctors, suspended the superintendent of the hospital Lakhendra Prasad and transferred four other doctors while serving show cause notice to three others.
Further, Mr. Manjhi on Tuesday took full responsibility for the Patna Dussehra stampede and defended the action he took against the officials and the doctors “in the largest interest of the people of the State”.
“I’ve to take face criticism of the Opposition and the media as head of the government. I take full responsibility for the incident as it was my responsibility to protect the lives of our citizen,” said the Chief Minister at Patna airport.
Asked about his swift actions against top officials and the doctors, Mr. Manjhi said: “I’m now engaged in reforming and strengthening the administration.”
“Now, it would be interesting to see what next Manjhi would do to prove he has come out on his own”, said local BJP leaders.
