The chief minister's janata durbar on Monday saw health minister Tej Pratap, his brother Tejaswi and Nitish Kumar himself taking on the media belligerently.
Tej Pratap flaredó up when asked about the sorry state of the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). "Journalists too have got a lot of worms in their stomach. They will have to be given albendazole tablets," the minister replied in Hindi.
Albendazole is a de-worming medicine.
While the journalists at the durbar were wondering if the minister had woken up on the wrong side of the bed, a tongue lashing from deputy chief minister Tejaswi that followed made it clear where the brothers' grouse lay.
Asked about accusations by the Opposition parties that the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated, Tejaswi retorted: "Have you any such data? Provide it to me if you have. Don't be with those are giving a bad name to Bihar. You are the fourth pillar of democracy. Don't support criminal elements in defaming the state. Don't encourage it. Don't cooperate in defaming Bihar."
The Telegraph had on Monday reported that the numbers of heinous crimes in the state show no spurt year on year till end-2015.
When questions about rape-accused absconding Nawada RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Prasad followed, Tejaswi flared up further. "So many BJP MLAs indulge in vandalism, shootouts and rapes, but no action is taken against them," the deputy chief minister thundered. "Union minister Nihal Chand is charged with rape, but what action has been taken against him? Are they (the Opposition) not embarrassed on it? The Prime Minister should give reply about it. When it's our case then everybody starts talking about it. Write whatever you want for your TRP!"
He, however, added that the law will take its course in Raj Ballabh's case.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar also hit out at the media, accusing a section of it of putting words in his mouth.
He said he had never said that Ishrat Jahan - who was allegedly bumped off by the Gujarat police in a fake encounter - was Bihar's daughter. "I am preparing to take legal action against them (those who reported his 'quote' about Ishrat)," he fumed.
