Chief minister Nitish Kumar listens to the grievances of people (above) and Riaz Ahmad Aatish at the janata darbar on Monday. Pictures by Deepak Kumar

Patna, Feb. 21: Chief minister Nitish Kumar’s weekly janata darbar turned into a mushaira (poetry reading session) when a complainant came with bagful of grievances at the meet today.

At the darbar, Riaz Ahmad Aatish, who worked as the director, purchase, with the Bihar water resources department, narrated his complaints by reciting poetry.

“Ek shahenshaah ne lekar daulat ka sahara, hum gareebon ki mohabbat ka udaya hai mazak (A king has taken the help of money to make fun of the love and affection bestowed by the poor),” Aatish narrated with reference to Taj Mahal). The chief minister gave Aatish a patient hearing.

The poet said: “Sir, I have been punished for doing my work honestly. During my 30 years of job, no one raised a finger on my duty but 20 days ahead of my retirement, I was suspended from my job and four charges were levelled against me.”

He added: “When Jagdanand Singh was the minister of water resources, the department commissioner, V. Jai Sankaran, framed four charges against me, which were all false. I was supposed to retire on February 28, 2005, and I was suspended on February 8, 2005. I have been told that I will not get 100 per cent pension for 10 years. How will I survive? If this is justice, then honest people are made fun of in your government.”

Nitish smiled and listened two of his poems. Aatish kept narrating his problems to him and the chief minister kept listening.

Nitish then directed Aatish to meet water resources minister Vijay Kumar Chowdhary. As soon as he reached the table of Afzal Amanullah, principal secretary of water resources, said: “What did you tell boss (Nitish) that he is smiling? Don’t you want to share it with us?”

Aatish narrated the same poems, which he had already narrated in front of Nitish. Vijay Kumar Chowdhary, too, heard his problems and directed Amanullah to take the matter into consideration.

When The Telegraph asked Aatish regarding his passion for poetry, he said: “Apart from working I also write poetry and I love doing mushaira. Many plead, many cry in front of the chief minister when they come with their problems but I don’t want to do such things. My grievances have been heard and I am sure that he will take appropriate action.”