Piyush Goyal: ‘No intention to insult Bihar or its people, withdraws remarks’; Oppn seeks apology

Facing major flak over his comments, Union Minister and Leader of the House Piyush Goyal on Thursday withdrew his remarks made in Rajya Sabha yesterday saying he did not mean to insult the people of Bihar.

Goyal had said that if RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha had his way, he “would turn the whole country into Bihar”, triggering protests and condemnation in Parliament by opposition MPs. The minister had made the comment on Tuesday, when RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) member Manoj Jha was speaking in Rajya Sabha on inflation and the state of the economy.

As Jha made critical remarks about soaring prices, Goyal said: “Inka bas chale to desh ko Bihar bana dein (if he had his way, he would turn the entire country into Bihar)”. Jha immediately shot back and said: “This is an insult to Bihar. With folded hands, I urge you, say whatever you want to about me, but please don’t make comments on Bihar.” MPs from the state protested near the Gandhi statue at parliament, raising slogans against Goyal.

Following the uproar, Goyal clarified: “Let me clarify that I had absolutely no intention of insulting either Bihar or the people of Bihar. If it has hurt anyone’s sentiment, I immediately withdraw that statement.” However, no apology came from him and MPs are not happy with the clarification. “Piyush Goyal will have to offer a public apology for his remarks. Merely withdrawing the statement is not enough. He insulted the people of Bihar,” Manoj Jha told NDTV. But the parliamentarians said it was not enough. “Piyush Goyal will have to offer a public apology for his remarks. Mere withdrawing the statement is not enough. He has insulted the people of Bihar,” said.

Manoj Jha has written to Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar to delete the comment that he termed as uncalled for and smacked of “elitism”, according to the India Today.  “I request you to expunge his statement and take necessary steps so that no other state in the country is subjected to such treatment by the Union government,” Jha said in the letter.

Meanwhile, Bihar’s deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav tweeted the clip of the parliament exchange and wrote: “Look at the insult of Bihar and Biharis by a mindless and arrogant union minister. Projects worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore were taken away from his home state, Maharashtra, by Gujarat and he could not utter a word. This shows his standing.”

-INDIA NEWS STREAM