from Special Correspondent
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Aug 21: State home minister Ravi Naik clarified that he never called Biharis as beggars and expressed surprise over Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's statement seeking apology.

"I am surprised to read the statement made by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar accusing home minister as Biharis as beggars. Nitish Kumar as a senior leader should have ascertained the veracity of my statement," the home minister said making a statement during Zero Hour in the ensuing state legislative assembly session.

Speaker Pratapsingh Rane expunged Naik's two lines of the statement made referring to Bihar CM.

Naik earlier this week participating in the session had reportedly expressed his concern over the increasing number of beggars and also had referred to the beginning of the train from Patna to Vasco.

The remarks which were widely published in the media attracted angry reaction from Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar who had demanded apology from State home minister.

"I never said Biharis as beggars," Naik clarified this afternoon during the session.

"I hear that this has been highlighted in the national capital and Bihar. Lot of coverage is given in the local and national newspaper for the same," the home minister added.

"I have the copy of proceedings and I can say that at no point of time did I say Biharis as beggars… I had said that begging in Goa is prohibited as the Anti-begging Act is enforced. I had said that migrants are indulged in begging and they are prosecuted by the police," he said reading the statement on the floor of the house.

The home minister said that union railway minister (Laloo Prasad Yadav) called him inquiring abut the statement and he had clarified to him.