Patna, Oct. 18: Doctors want an apology from chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, within 24 hours, for his “hands would be chopped” remark, but the latter sought refuge in idioms.

After an emergency meeting, officials at the state chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) threatened a statewide strike if Manjhi did not apologise. “The chief minister says ‘chopping of hands’ was an idiom and doctors should not take it literally. We refuse to accept this. We have served him a 24-hour ultimatum within which to apologise. Very recently, the state government suspended a few doctors on different grounds without giving them a chance to explain. The suspensions should also be taken back within the said time. If our demands are not met health services across the state will be hit. The IMA will soon decide on a date for the statewide strike,” Sanjeev Ranjan Kumar Singh, secretary, IMA Bihar chapter, said.

Two PMCH doctors and a nurse were suspended on Friday for alleged negligence that led a nine-year-old’s death.

Earlier in the day, Manjhi issued a statement saying he had used the words to mean clipping of wings. “Doctors should know the meaning of idioms and phrases. I merely meant taking action against errant doctors who don’t treat poor patients well. Such doctors exist though their numbers might be just 10 per cent,” Manjhi said at a function in AN Sinha Institute.

But a day ago he seemed to be singing a different tune. “Jo gareebo ke saath khilwar karenge, unka hum haath kaat lenge. Iske liye mujhe jo bhi parinaam bhugatna pade, main tayyar hoon,” (those doctors who play with the lives of the poor will have their hands chopped off. I’m ready to face any consequence),” Manjhi had said at Pakridayal, 22km east of Motihari town.

Language experts told The Telegraph the sense in which Manjhi used the word did not liken it to an idiom. “Haath kaatna (Cutting of hands) is an idiom if a person gives away something very important to him by his will or it is taken away from him by force. If someone’s land is taken away by force, once can say ‘Usne mera haath kaat daala’ (He cut off my hands). But the chief minister’s statement has got nothing to do with it. He spoke like a dictator,” Darbhanga-based Shankar Deo Jha, a litterateur in Maithali and member said.

IMA authorities said if Manjhi did not apologise and reinstate the suspended doctors, they would knock on the doors of the Supreme Court, Human Rights Commission and even the President. “This is like Hammurabi who used to hang doctors to death if patients died during treatment,” IMA’s Sanjeev Ranjan said.

Hammurabi was the sixth Amorite king of Babylon from 1792 BC to 1750 BC and is known for his code of laws.

Orthopaedic Amulya Singh wrote on his Facebook page: “Today, after reading the statement on the net of our Honorable Respected Chief Minister Mr. Manjhi,One of my friend from England rang me up and asked---‘Has Bihar Really Changed??’”