JD (U) Rural Development Minister Nitish Mishra and party MLC Vinod Kumar Singh denied the charge saying Manjhi had been ‘misinformed’. (Source: PTI photo) JD (U) Rural Development Minister Nitish Mishra and party MLC Vinod Kumar Singh denied the charge saying Manjhi had been ‘misinformed’. (Source: PTI photo)

A day after Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi alleged that a Madhubani temple and its deity were “washed after his visit” during the recent Assembly by-poll, JD (U) Rural Development Minister Nitish Mishra and party MLC Vinod Kumar Singh, who had accompanied the CM to the temple, denied the charge saying Manjhi had been “misinformed”.

It was minister Ram Lashan Ram Raman who had told the CM about the temple having been “washed after the CM visit”. Raman, however, had not accompanied the CM to the temple at Brahmin-dominated Tharhi village under Rajnagar Assembly segment under Madhubani district on August 18.

Rural development minister Nitish Mishra told The Indian Express: “Vinod Singh and I had accompanied the temple which does not have any deity as much but an earthen pind. It is an ancient Kali temple, which has been open to all. DMs, BDOs and other government officials coming from scheduled caste have visited the temple”.

Denying the CM’s allegation of the temple having been “washed”, Mishra said: “No such thing happened. Rather, the CM was overwhelmed with the reception. He may have been misinformed about it. The temple, which is washed twice – 4 am and 4 pm everyday – was in fact could not be washed for the second time on August 18 because of the temple’s preoccupation with the CM visit”.

Mishra said: “Had such things happened, there could have been prompt registration of cases and probable fine on entire village. After all, it was about the CM. But in reality, it had not happened.”

JD (U) MLC Vinod Kumar Singh echoed similar version. “Ram Lashan Ram Raman must have been misinformed by his people. Those people should be brought before police and media to give correct version”, said Singh.

BJP state president Mangal Pandey said the truth must come out. “If such things have happened, there should be immediate action such people”.

AICC national media panelist Chandan Yadav said: “If such thing happened, it is a blot on democracy. The matter should be thoroughly investigated”.

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