RJD leader Dinesh Kumar Singh interacts with a policeman in front of the office of water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, July 22: A closed chamber and an absent water resources minister proved no deterrent to Jagdishpur RJD MLA Dinesh Kumar Singh when it came to the cause of his farmers.

Singh reached Sichai Bhavan today around 12noon to sit on a dharna, alleging water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary’s alleged negligence towards Bhojpur district. He said the minister had failed in his duty to clean up the ponds, which are the small farmers’ source of water, in his district and releasing adequate water for the sowing season.

At the door to Choudhary’s chamber, Singh was told the minister was not present (he was at the JD(U) workers’ janata durbar called by chief minister Nitish Kumar) and the room was closed. The crowd of the department officials and police grew around the legislator but he continued his attempts to enter the chamber.

His irritation started to show after about 20 minutes of argument at the chamber door. “If you people will not allow me to sit inside the chamber, I will sit here. The farmers of Bhojpur district are unable to get water for farming and your minister is busy doing drama at the chief minister’s house.”

Offers from chief engineer, planning and monitoring, Hari Narayan to discuss the issue amicably did not work on Singh nor did the police’s persuasion. Finally around 2.30pm, when principal secretary, water resources, Arun Kumar Singh said his demands would be met did Singh leave.

He left behind with a threat though — he would sit on another dharna if the demands were not met in a fortnight.