JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar today rejected any possibility of the removal of controversy-prone Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and said their immediate priority was the merger of all Janata Parivar offshoots and the launching of a joint protest against the NDA government's "ordinance raj".
Speculation has been rife that JD(U) would sack Manjhi, who yesterday shifted a number of officials perceived to be close to Kumar, his immediate predecessor in the post.
But after holding deliberations here with JD(U) President Sharad Yadav, Kumar said the issue was not on their agenda.
"We are busy with our merger plans and that is what we discussed. We also discussed modalities of our joint protests. It (Manjhi's removal) is not under consideration. I don't need to come to Delhi to talk about Bihar issues," the former Bihar Chief Minister told reporters here.
Yadav, meanwhile, added that reports of the likely removal of Manjhi were a creation of the media and have no credence.
Kumar also slammed the BJP-led central government for what he charged was its attempts to rule through "ordinance raj". His reference was to a number of ordinances brought in by it to effect new laws on land acquisition, coal and mines.
Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was authorised to carry out the merger exercise of Janata Parivar parties, is expected to be in the national capital in a day or two. RJD President Lalu Yadav will also be around, sources said.
Taking a dig at RSS and its affiliates over their protest against the Aamir Khan-starrer 'PK', Kumar said the movie was against religious hypocrisy and superstition while claiming that these outfits were trying to divide society.
"The real battle is of Hindus versus Hindus. There is a radical section whose numbers have grown of late as they are in power, but the moderates still outnumber them," Kumar said as he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of talking of development as a diversionary tactic while these outfits work to divide society.
The ruling BJP was apprehensive about the merger of Janata Parivar outfits, Kumar said, adding that it would further strengthen the hand of the moderates.
