Patna:
The Centre's announcement of special status to Seemandhra - the region of Andhra Pradesh that will form the residuary state once Telangana is carved out - has evoked sharp reactions cutting across party lines in Bihar.
While the BJP has given a rail roko call on February 28, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) has called for a Bihar bandh on March 2.
Today, Mr Kumar made a unique appeal to the people of Bihar by asking them to come out of their houses and clap on utensils for five minutes on the day of the bandh.
The chief minister justified his unique protest by saying "the sound of utensils will echo to the policymakers sitting in Delhi who decided to deprive special status to Bihar despite all the formalities in this regard."
Mr Kumar also slammed the Centre for 'depriving' special status to Bihar in view of its economic backwardness but granting it to Seemandhra after carving out Telangana last week.
"Why has Bihar's legitimate aspiration for development been scuttled?" Mr Kumar asked.
Stating that special status is a right of the people of Bihar, the Chief Minister said he would lead the people in realising their aspiration for development.
The chief minister also made it very clear to his party supporters that they should not report to any violence during the bandh.
Mr Kumar had initially announced a bandh on March 1, but due to a CBSE examination that day, moved the bandh to March 2.