Patna, Oct. 15: For Nitish Kumar, black is beautiful. The chief minister, whose trademark dress is starched white kurta and pyjama, gave black his seal of approval following criticism that his administration had targeted the colour, associating it with protests.

“Let me speak suo motu on the rumours surrounding the black colour. Black is beautiful. I am immensely fond of black colour. I have never objected to anyone wearing black clothes while attending my meetings,” Nitish said at his weekly janata darbar.

The chief minister had come under fire following reports that some districts had banned people from wearing black clothes to his Adhikar Yatra rallies. Nitish faced protests from contractual teachers across his rallies, prompting reports that the police were “harassing” anyone in black or even carrying umbrellas or sporting accessories that were of that colour. Nitish today rebutted the allegations of a black ban. “Show me a single TV footage of a policeman preventing any person in black from entering my meeting venue. We shall take appropriate action against the policeman concerned,” he said.

Asked about his outbursts over the protests by contractual teachers at Khagaria and other places, the chief minister said: “I am not opposed to anyone protesting or putting forth his demand. But I am strongly opposed to the manner in which the contractual teachers protested. The teachers are not supposed to protest by attacking someone or pelting stones at my cavalcade. There is a proper platform to voice demands or protests. Why should they resort to violence? Lawlessness and violence have no place in democracy.” Nitish was, however, cautious in not being too critical of the para-teachers, but instead deflected the onus on his political opponents. “I have undertaken yatras (journeys) and have addressed many meetings across the state in the past. But such scenes are new. You can guess who is behind the unrest.”

“Usually, one political party does not disturb the function of another. But this is a new tradition — our rivals are disturbing JD(U) meetings.”

Our Special Correspondent