Bihar’s Education Minister, Professor Chandrasekhar, has once again ignited a controversy by making a startling claim regarding the revered Hindu epic, Ramcharitmanas. During a public event held in Patna on Thursday, the minister asserted that there is “potassium cyanide” within the epic and vowed to continue opposing it as long as this alleged element exists.
Professor Chandrasekhar’s controversial statement emerged as he referred to a verse from the Sundar Kand of Ramcharitmanas, where he posed a provocative question to the audience. He asked, “If the price of cutting my tongue is Rs 10 crore, what would be the price of my throat?”
The Education Minister’s remarks have drawn swift and stern reactions from political leaders, including those within his own party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sivananda Tiwari, an RJD leader, questioned the minister’s priorities, urging him to determine whether opposing Ramcharitmanas was more important than confronting the BJP.
During his address, Professor Chandrasekhar delved into the subject of caste, raising thought-provoking questions. He inquired, “Tell me, when everyone’s ancestors were chimpanzees, then where did these castes come from?”
He pointed out that these questions were previously contested by prominent figures like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and poet Nagarjuna.
The Education Minister reiterated his objection to Ramcharitmanas, vowing that this stance would persist throughout his life.
In a concluding statement, Professor Chandrasekhar emphasized the need for reform in the caste system. He argued that unless the conditions of those marginalized in society were improved, reservations and census would continue to be essential in the country.
