Patna, Aug 11 (IANS): Hundreds of JD-U leaders and workers across Bihar on Tuesday handed over their samples -- like hair and nails -- to send them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for DNA test during a day long sit-in protesting his comment at a public rally questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's DNA.

"Janata Dal-United leaders and workers have given their samples in the form of hair and nails to send them to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for DNA test," JD-U spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan said.

The JD-U on Tuesday launched a "shabd wapsi" campaign to put pressure on Prime Minister Modi to take back his remark.

Party members staged sit-ins across the state to protest against Modi's comment, which Nitish Kumar termed an insult to Biharis.

The party said it will collect and send signatures of 50 lakh people to Modi.

"The JD-U has began a drive to collect signatures and samples for DNA test, and the party will send them to the PMO," Ranjan said.

Nitish Kumar had earlier said the signatures and samples will be sent to Modi in the second week of September.

The JD-U, along with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party will also hold a 'Swabhiman' rally on August 29 here.

Addressing a public meeting in Muzaffarpur on July 25, Modi said: "There seems to be some problem in his (Nitish Kumar) DNA because the DNA of democracy is not like that. In democracy, you give respect even to your political rivals."