Piyush Goyal Withdraws His “Derogatory” Bihar Remark

New Delhi: Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday, backtracked on his claim that the RJD will one day convert the entire “nation like Bihar” if given the chance, stating he had no intention of disparaging the state or its people.

Jha, who had on Wednesday written a letter to Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar regarding the minister’s “demeaning” statement, demanded an apology from the BJP leader at the beginning of Rajya Sabha proceedings on Thursday.

Goyal, the Leader of the House and Minister of Commerce and Industry, declared that he would instantly withdraw the statement if it had offended anyone.

“At the outset, let me clarify that there is absolutely no intention of insulting either Bihar or the people of Bihar. And if at all it has hurt anybody, I will immediately withdraw the statement. It was not made with any malice to anybody at all,” he said.

Goyal had made the statement when Jha was speaking on Tuesday during a discussion of the Appropriations Bill requesting Parliament’s approval for additional spending.

Goyal said, “Inka bas chale to desh ko Bihar bana dein (if they have their way, they will turn the country into Bihar),” as he stressed the government should give the poor and corporate entities equal attention.

On Thursday, Jha requested an apology from Goyal, claiming that an insult to Bihar is an insult to the entire country.