Patna, Oct 18 (IANS): Doctors in Bihar Saturday gave a 24-hour ultimatum to Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to express regret for his controversial remark that he would chop off the hands of doctors who neglect poor patients.

The angry doctors have threatened to go on strike.

The Bihar branch of the Indian Medical Association and the Bihar Health Service Association, in an emergency meeting Saturday evening here to discuss Manjhi's remark, have demanded that he express regret by Sunday evening.

"The chief minister should express his regret for his remark. If he fails to do so, IMA and BHSA will be forced to initiate tough action," Ajay Kumar of BHSA told the media here.

IMA official Shahjanand Singh said IMA and BHSA would approach the National Human Rights Commission, the apex court, president and prime minister over Manjhi's remark.

Manjhi has already made a U-turn on his controversial remark Saturday following a hue and cry. He told the media here that he had used a Hindi proverb "hath kaat denge" (will chop off hands) to take a tough line against negligent doctors.

"I did not mean what it was made out of the popular proverb that I used to say something. I never meant to chop off hands of doctors for negligence in treatment of poor," he said.

Friday, he had reportedly said: "If doctors are found careless in treatment of the poor, then their (doctors) hands will be chopped off by Jitan Ram Manjhi."

"I am ready to face any consequence for this. Doctors who play with the lives of the poor will not be spared," he said after inaugurating a hospital in East Champaran district.