RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Jitan Ram Manjhi engaged in a spat on Thursday questioning their respective caste identities.

While Manjhi dared Lalu to claim that he was a Gareri or Gareria (shepherd) instead of a Yadav, the latter taunted by asking whether Manjhi was a Musahar. Their families and party members also joined the issue, proving that caste was still the prime factor in Bihar and its politics.

The spat began after Manjhi, who champions himself as a Musahar and Scheduled Caste (SC) leader, visited the Krishna Nagar Dalit locality in Nawada district, that was torched by a mob last week.

Manjhi said: “The goondas of the Opposition parties can break our homes, but not our courage. Their patron Lalu Pal (Gareri) can hide his caste, but we do not do so. We are proud to be Musahars. If Lalu has courage, he should announce that he is a Gareri,” Manjhi said.

The RJD chief reiterated by asserting that Manjhi has aligned with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and abandoned his Dalit identity.

“Manjhi has been coached in the school of RSS and people lovingly call him Jitan Ram Sharma,” Lalu said.

Manjhi then retaliated by asking him to clarify whether he was a Yadav or a Gareri – a question that has chased the RJD chief for decades.

Folloowing which, Lalu questioned: “Oo Musahar hai kya? (Is he a Musahar)” to again cast doubt over Manjhi’s Dalit identities. It was also seen as a taunt as the Musahar caste is considered among the most downtrodden among the Scheduled Castes, and is counted among the Mahadalits.

The Union MSME minister then took to social media platform X to address the RJD chief. “Lalu ji, I am a Musahar-Bhuiyan. My father, grandfather and great grandfather were also Musahar-Bhuiyan. My entire dynasty is of Musahar-Bhuiyan and we proudly say that we are Musahar-Bhuiyan.”

Leaders from Manjhi’s party Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS) also challenged Lalu to come forward with his family tree for the past three generations.