“One day he will make the whole country Bihar”, Piyush Goyal withdraws the controversy comment
NEW DELHI: Union Minister Piyush Goyal has withdrawn his controversy comment regarding Bihar. On Tuesday, Piyush Goyal had said for RJD leader Manoj Jha in the Rajya Sabha that if he had his way, “he will make the whole country into Bihar one day”.
Piyush Goyal said that he had no intention to insult the state or its people.
Manoj Jha was speaking during the discussion on the Appropriation Bill in Parliament that the government should give equal importance to poor and corporate houses.
Congress President Mallikarjug Kharge has also opposed Piyush Goyal’s statement.
After this, on Thursday, Manoj Jha wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha President Jagdeep Dhankhar saying that Piyush Goyal has insulted the people of Bihar and he should apologise.
As Jha made critical remarks about soaring prices, Piyush Goyal, the leader of the house, said: “Inka bas chale to desh ko Bihar bana dein (if he had his way, he would turn the entire country into Bihar)”.
Jha protested immediately. “Sir, this is an insult to Bihar. Piyush ji, with folded hands I urge you, say whatever you want to about me, but please don’t make comments on Bihar,” he said.
Bihar MPs accused Goyal of demeaning their state by using it as a pejorative term.
Now Commerce and Industry Minister and Leader of the House Goyal has withdrawn his statement.
This morning, Goyal put out a clarification but stopped short of an apology. “Let me clarify that I had absolutely no intention of insulting either Bihar or people of Bihar. If it has hurt anyone’s sentiment, I immediately withdraw that statement,” the minister said in Rajya Sabha.