A day after Nitish Kumar, Chief Minister of Bihar condemning undignified remarks sought apology from Goa’s Home Miinster, Ravi Naik, the latter came out saying he never called ‘Biharis as beggars.’
"I am surprised to read the statement made by Nitish Kumar accusing me saying Biharis as beggars. Nitish Kumar as a senior leader should have ascertained the veracity of my statement," the home minister stated during Zero Hour in the ensuing state legislative assembly session.
“I never said Biharis as beggars,” Naik clarified today during the session. Reading a statement in the House he further added: “I have the copy of proceedings and I can say that at no point of time did I say Biharis as beggars… I had said that begging in Goa is prohibited as the Anti-begging Act is enforced. I had said that migrants are indulged in begging and they are prosecuted by the police.”
Earlier this week, Naik had reportedly expressed concern over the augmenting number of beggars in the state and referred beginning of the train from Patna to Vasco would further increase this number.
This statement got wide coverage in the local as well as national newspaper and acquired the adverse reaction from Bihari people.
On Wednesday Nitish Kumar denounced the alleged anti-Bihari remarks by Naik and demanded an unqualified apology from him for hurting the sensibilities of Biharis.
“Coming from a person occupying the responsible post of a Minister in a State, the remark is deplorable and should be condemned by all. The remark should be withdrawn immediately and the Minister should tender an unqualified apology to the people of Bihar,” he said.
On the issue all significant opponent regional parties-JD(U), RJD, LJP-came on the same platform denouncing the objectionable and irresponsible statement from a person holding constitutional post.
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