Context Was To Include OBCs In Women's Reservation: RJD MP Manoj Jha On 'Thakur' Poem Row

RJD Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha has said that his motive to read out 'Thakur' poem was only to have the OBC quota separately in the women's reservation bill.

RJD MP Manoj Jha

Source : PTI

Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha has now opened up on the row over his recitation of the poem 'Thakur Ka Kuan' in Rajya Sabha during a debate on the Women's Reservation Bill in the special session of parliament. Jha said that he had been receiving calls for the last 72 hours where people were saying absurd things to him. Giving a clarification over the poem, he said anyone who would listen to his "complete" speech and not the "WhatsApp forwards" would know the context of the same.

"That poem was written by Om Prakash Valmiki... Before reading that poem, I gave a disclaimer that this is not related to any caste, I said that 'Thakur' can be inside me too...", the Rajya Sabha MP said.

#WATCH | On his 'Thakur' remark row, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "That poem was written by Om Prakash Valmiki... Before reading that poem, I gave a disclaimer that this is not related to any caste, I said that 'Thakur' can be inside me too... The context of that poem was to inclusion… pic.twitter.com/wC0BOiycWf

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2023

"Thakur is the symbol of dominance...the context of that poem was to inclusion of backwards in the Women's Reservation Bill... I am seeing that after that people are calling me to say absurd things. I have been receiving these calls for the past 72 hours..." he added.

His comments came after JDU and a leader from his own party objected to it. RJD MLA Chetan Anand said no one should make a 'target' or 'soft target' thing and anything like this "will not be tolerated at all".

"If people, where he lives, get to hear this (poem), they will not let him come there.... I am shocked that people there (Rajya Sabha) listened to it. I would have protested then and there had I been there," Anand said.

BREAKING | जाति के नाम पर लालू की पार्टी में जंग, सांसद मनोज झा पर MLA चेतन आनंद भड़केhttps://t.co/smwhXUROiK | @awdheshkmishra#Bihar #ManojJha #Parliament #RJD #ChetanAnand #BiharNews pic.twitter.com/nDCqGNnUAl

— ABP News (@ABPNews) September 27, 2023

On the other hand, JD(U) MLC Sanjay Singh sought an apology from Jha and warned him of the consequences of repeating something like this in the future.  

Bihar | On RJD MP Manoj Jha's 'Thakur' remark, JD(U) MLC Sanjay Singh says, "I warn Manoj Jha ji speaking against 'Thakurs'. He should apologise for this statement."

(27.09) pic.twitter.com/y0L6BOQxZi

— ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2023

"This is condemnable. Don't abuse Thakurs, Jha ji. Thakur is a fire which, if flares, no one will be able to extinguish. Nitish Kumar ji works with people of all castes and religion...don't give such indecent statements. Apologise," he said.