Patna, June 23: Nearly 3,000 minority members today gathered at SK Memorial Hall, filling it up beyond its capacity, to take part in a state-level conference on minorities. Muslim women chose to register their presence clad in burqas.

It was humid weather with the Celsius touching almost 40 degrees. Moreover, the air-conditioning system of the hall was not functioning and most of the participants were seen fanning themselves with the party pamphlet.

The heat in the hall made chief minister Nitish Kumar feel the heat of the hall. Sweating away, he drank several glasses of water. Very upset at the miss management, Nitish called the senior IAS officers on the stage and asked them the reason behind the malfunctioning AC.

But some JD(U) leaders did not miss the opportunity to attack the Opposition with the regard of AC. Maulana Ghulam Rasool Balyavi said: “I am very sure that there is hand of the Opposition in this and they must have done something to the AC and wanted us to face this problem today but their intention will not be successful.”

However, JD(U) minority supporters were not in the mood of disappointing him and garlanded Nitish with a 30kg garland made of makhana and a 50kg marigold garland. Kumar was very pleased to receive the warm response from the minority supporters.

He was later gifted three mementos by the JD(U) minority cell and to become the part of the minorities, he wore a round cap worn by the Muslims.