Nitish Kumar

Patna, Nov. 24: Chief minister Nitish Kumar today sharply reacted to the incident of a transporter slapping Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar and senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha’s statement that people might resort to violence against price rise.

Harvinder Singh, a transporter, allegedly broke his way through journalists and officials and slapped Pawar after a public meeting in New Delhi.

Referring to the attack on Pawar, Nitish said: “Such elements (like Harvinder) have no place in our democracy. What has happened with Pawar is abominable, deserving appropriate action.”

In the context of Sinha, Nitish said: “There is no place for violence in our society. Nothing should provoke anyone to resort to violence. We had achieved Independence through peaceful means...not violence.”

“Some elements were out to earn cheap media publicity by indulging in such acts. They should be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law,” he said.

On the conclusion of the third phase of his Seva Yatra in Sheikhpura district today, Nitish expressed satisfaction the way his yatra was going. “I got the chance to interact with people. The trips are proving to be educative in the sense that I am getting direct feedback from the people on issues concerning them.”