Patna, Feb. 7: Disappointed was the expression on many a Bihari non-resident Indian (NRI), as Jitan Ram Manjhi skipped the 'Bihar ko Jaane' conclave today.

The event, aimed at garnering investments, was organised by the Bihar Foundation, a wing under the state industries department formed in 2007 to act as a bridge between the state government and the diaspora.

With the state in the grip of political uncertainty, the absence of Manjhi, for obvious reasons, did not go down well with the NRIs.

'Until the last moment, we all had the confirmation that Manjhi would attend the programme. Around 10.30am, one of the chairs, which had a white towel wrapped on it, was removed and immediately after this, all other guests came to the dais. Then there was an announcement that Manjhi will not be coming,' Shakil Ahmed Kakvi, an NRI businessman living in Qatar, said.

Originally hailing from Jehanabad, Kakvi, who has been living abroad for 20 years, is also the chairman of the Qatar chapter of Bihar Foundation.

With industries minister Bhim Singh and water resource minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary urging the NRIs belonging to Bihar to come up, understand the state and its schemes, bond with their roots and do business here, the NRIs appeared in two minds and confused too.

Obaidur Rahman, born in Patna and living in Saudi Arabia for 15 years now, said the ongoing political instability was dangerous and investors would shy away from the state. 'An unstable government will not attract any investment no matter how lucrative the schemes are,' he said.