Patna: On the eve of Bihar bandh called by ruling JD(U), Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today led his cabinet colleagues and party activists in beating utensils to protest against the Centre denying special category status to the state on the lines of the one given to Seemandhra.
Kumar beat a metal plate with a small hammer outside his official One Anne Marg residence for five minutes from 7 pm.
Several ministers like Vijay Chaudhary and Shyam Rajak, state JD(U) state President Basistha Narayan Singh joined Kumar in beating the utensil at his home. Economist Saibal Gupta, who represented Bihar in Raghuram Rajan committee for redefining backwardness, was also there.
Kumar said beating of utensils was aimed at sending a voice of protest to the central government.
Many people in villages and towns across Bihar also beat utensil outside their homes at that hour. JD(U) workers held "Prabhat pheri" in various parts of the state this morning in this regard.
Later, Kumar alleged UPA government "discriminated" against a poor and backward state like Bihar by denying it special category status.
"In accordance with Raghuram Rajan committee recommendations, Bihar is qualified for the status. But they put the matter into cold storage and accorded this to Seemandhra which even did not ask for it," Kumar said.
