BJP protests against Bihar minister's remarks

Bihar's opposition BJP took to the streets on Saturday and organised sit-ins across Bihar against Congress minister Abdul Jalil Mastan, demanding his dismissal for asking people to throw shoes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's photograph.

Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar said the BJP will continue to protest against Mastan and would intensify it in the coming days to put pressure on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to sack the Excise and Prohibition Minister.

"Nitish Kumar is not sacking Mastan to save himself," he said.

Thousands of BJP leaders and workers staged sit-ins at all district headquarters in the state.

Mastan is the only minister from the backward and under-developed Seemanchal belt, which comprises of Purnia, Kishanganj, Araria and Katihar districts with a sizeable Muslim population.

While addressing a gathering in Purnia district's Amour constituency, Mastan kicked up a controversy after he asked the crowd to protest the central government's demonetisation move and to beat Modi's photograph with shoes.

A video showing the minister's remarks was aired on a Hindi news channel on February 22 and also went viral on social media.

Mastan apologised on Wednesday to put an end to the row.

The Congress, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) make up Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance.

--IANS

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