Jitan Ram Manjhi mocks Tejashwi Yadav’s slip while honoring Dashrath Manjhi

During a ceremony in Patna commemorating one outlet death anniversary of the “Mountain Man” Dashrath Manjhi, Rashtriya Janata Dal national working president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav mistakenly invoked the name of Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular founder Jitan Ram Manjhi while paying homage. RJD functionaries pointed out the slip, prompting Tejashwi to promptly correct himself and name Dashrath Manjhi. The incident was captured on video and later shared by Manjhi on X, where he suggested the mistake might have been caused by intoxication.

The gaffe surfaced as both leaders pressed for the late activist to receive the Bharat Ratna, with Tejashwi also demanding a large statue and an ashram in Patna. Manjhi announced he would take the award request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing that Dashrath’s 22-year effort carving a road through a mountain has been insufficiently recognised. He also accused the current NDA government of using bulldozers to demolish homes of the poor.