Patna: The JDU issued an open letter on Sunday, accusing former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi of misleading the people on prohibition.

Former JDU MLA Arun Manjhi, spokesperson Arvind Nishad and MLC Chandeshar Chandravanshi alleged that Manjhi was doing dirty politics for his own political goals.

"According to government data from April 2016 to March 31, 2018, total 6,83,370 raids have been conducted and 1,27,489 people arrested of whom 801 are from other states," Arun said at his Patna residence while releasing the open letter. "Total 11,70,865 litres of country made liquor, 17,13,780 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor were seized. Only 8,123 people are in jail at present for prohibition violation. Jitan Ram Manjhi's claim that more 1.27 lakh people are jailed is totally false."

Manjhi had on Saturday slammed the Bihar government over draconian provisions in the prohibition law, and reiterated that 1.27 lakh people are in jail for it. He had called the provisions "Tughlaqi farman".

Arun added that Manjhi's claim that 90 per cent of the people jailed for prohibition are from the Dalit community was equally false. He said people from all sections of society have been put behind bars for violating the prohibition law.

Arun said people who commit crimes are not seen as belonging from any particular caste or community.

Spokesperson Arvind Nishad also said Manjhi did not want to support social causes because of his vested interests.

"He wants to settle his political score with Nitish Kumar who made him chief minister. If Nitish ji had not made him CM, the people of Bihar would have not known about a politician by the name of Jitan Ram Manjhi. I challenge him to provide proof that more than 1 lakh people are behind bars," said Nishad. "If he cannot, then he should apologise to the people for lying. By issuing false statements, he wants to ruin the next generation."

Chandravanshi said many lives have been saved because of Nitish's bold decision.