Motihari, Aug. 24: Chief minister Nitish Kumar was today shown black flags by Accredited social health activists (ASHA) demanding higher pay scale.
The district administration apprehended trouble from the ASHA during Nitish's visit and the police removed them from the meeting venue. In turn, the workers protested and demonstrated black flag on the venue's main gate. The district administration, however, denied that the workers had been lathi-charged.
Nitish, who visited the district to participate at a non-political function at Kanchhedwa village, said Bihar would be "developed by the Biharis and their endeavour and never due to the mercy of any outsider".
He also unveiled the 14ft tall statue of Lord Buddha erected at a cost of Rs 10 lakh in nearby Siswa village and inaugurated a bio-fertiliser unit set up recently by sons of the local MLA and minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha. Besides Awadhesh, minister Vijay Choudhary and several party MLAs were also present.
Without naming anyone, the chief minister said the Indian politics has witnessed a vital change in the present times where "jumlebazi" has substituted the ethics and values. "I have tried my best to improve the infrastructure in the state and for the first time introduced girls' cycle schemes. It has brought tremendous result as before 2005 the number of girl students in Class IX in the schools was just 1.70 lakh but the present figure has shot up to 8.15 lakh. In fact it was an important step towards women empowerment in the state," Nitish added.
He referred the secular and impartial spirit of the Constitution and quoted Lord Buddha during his address stating that first step towards women empowerment was initiated by Budhha through induction of Sanghmitra in the Sangh. "He claimed to be a staunch believer in the true spirit of constitution and that is why he also stresses the theme of development with justice in the society. Lord Buddha was also opposed to the fanaticism in the society," Nitish added. "It is quite sad that some people have become adamant today to distort the harmonious fibre of the society."
Nitish asked the gathering to get united over the forces "who have humiliated the grandeur of Bihar" through their maximum participation in a meeting organised at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, on August 30. Before concluding his address, he claimed to have served the people of Bihar with maximum of his ability and also assured to extend his further services to the in case the people expressed their faith in him by giving him a chance to do so.
