Bihar CM backtracks on remark on doctors

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi Saturday made a U-turn on his controversial remark that he would chop off the hands of doctors found neglecting poor patients.

Manjhi told the media here that he had used a Hindi proverb "hath kaat denge" (will chop off hands) to take a tough line with negligent doctors.

"I did not mean what it was made out of the popular proverb that I used to say something. I never meant to chop off hands of doctors for negligence in treatment of poor," he said.

The chief minister Friday reportedly said: "If doctors are found careless in treatment of the poor, then their (doctors) hands will be chopped off by Jitan Ram Manjhi."

"I am ready to face any consequence for this. Doctors who play with the lives of the poor will not be spared," he said after inaugurating a hospital in East Champaran district.

His comment triggered a controversy in the state with the opposition BJP and doctors expressing unhappiness.

After a hue and cry by the BJP and doctors across Bihar Saturday, Manjhi clarified that his words were misinterpreted due to lack of knowledge of the meaning of a Hindi proverb.

The Bihar branch of the Indian Medical Association and the Bihar Health Service Association called an emergency meeting Saturday evening to discuss Manjhi's remark while the BJP demanded a public apology from him.