PATNA: Former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi courted controversy yet again on Thursday by describing Lord Rama as a fictional character from the epics the Ramayana and Ram Charit Manas, written by Valmiki and Tulsi Das, respectively. He had made a similar statement about Lord Rama in September last.
"Ram was not a god. I don't believe in Ram. He is a fictional character created by Valmiki and Tulsi Das to send across a message what they wanted to convey," Manjhi said at a meeting of Dalit sections at Jamui on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti on Thursday.