Patna, April 15 : Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) President and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has stirred up a fresh controversy by dubbing Lord Ram as an imaginary character and refusing to consider him as God. Manjhi made the comments, while addressing a function at Sikandra in Jamui district on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. Manjhi, who had landed in a soup last year after issuing a similar statement, reiterated on Ambedkar Jayanti that he does not believe Ram was a God and maintained that Ram was a fictious character in mythological stories created by Tulsidas and Valmiki, in order to spread their messages. He went on to say that he does not believe that Ram was a great man and was ever alive. Manjhi also ridiculed worship of Gods by people, stating that those who perform Puja at other’s houses, do not become great people. He told the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to stop performing puja in their houses. Condemning the Brahmins, he said they eat meat, consume liquor and speak lies and by getting puja performed by such people, one cannot gain religious merit, instead by inviting the Brahmins, one will only bring sin. However, Manjhi said that Ramayan has many good things, which can be used to inculcate culture in children and women. RS RJ