Nitish Kumar addresses people at the Champaran Satyagrah centenary year event in West Champaran (PTI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today lost his cool when a group of women employees of the health department, who are on contract, interrupted his speech to ask him about giving them permanent jobs.
Mr Kumar was on a tour of Bhitiharwa in West Champaran district, a place associated with Mahatma Gandhi's Champaran Satyagrah, whose centenary is being celebrated this year.
As Nitish Kumar began his speech, recalling Mahatma Gandhi's fight for the rights of indigo planters, a group of auxiliary nurse midwives in the health department started shouting slogans.
The chief minister was taken by surprise. "Have you people got no shame? You are interrupting an event organised on the occasion of the centenary of Champaran Satyagrah. If you have any legitimate demand you could have met me after the event," Nitish Kumar told the protesters.
"I am sorry to see such behaviour from women. Who has worked more than I have for the empowerment of women? Your slogan shouting will divert the media's attention from the event and only the ruckus will be talked about," he said.
Contractual health workers across Bihar have been demanding regularisation of their jobs.
Later, resuming his speech, the chief minister said prohibition imposed by his government in Bihar was "the greatest homage one could have paid to Mahatma Gandhi".
"Barring a few, most are happy with the ban on alcohol. Even the Supreme Court has made it clear that consumption and sale of alcohol are not fundamental rights," he said.