Bihar minister Abdul Jalil Mastan, who asked crowd to beat PM Modi with shoes, issues apology

Patna: Bihar's Minister for excise and prohibition Abdul Jalil Mastan has issued an apology for making abusive remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event last month. 

"I am sorry for my dacoit jibe against the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I apologise of my remarks have hurt anyone. Insulting Prime Minister is an insult to the nation," Mastan said. 

Earlier today, a police complaint was filed on Wednesday in Hajipur Court against the Bihar minister for making abusive remarks against PM Modi. 

While addressing a crowd, Abdul Jalil Mastan kicked up a controversy when he asked the public gathered at a programme to protest the central government's demonetisation move and to hit the photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with shoes.

A video showing the minister passing abusive remarks was telecasted on a local TV channel on Tuesday, after which a fuming BJP said it would raise the issue in the state Assembly as well as the Legislative Council. The BJP also demanded Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to sack the minister.

In the video, Mastan, who is the state Excise and Prohibition minister, was heard telling the crowd that it was the PM who had said that if he failed to end people's woes within 50 days of demonetisation, he was prepared to face any punishment.

The video shows the MLA telling the people to hit the PM's photograph with shoes. A few supporters then hit the photograph of the PM kept on a chair on the stage with shoes while the minister was present on the dais.

An enraged senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said the party would raise the issue in both Houses of Bihar Assembly tomorrow demanding the removal of Mastan.

"One can have ideological difference. But, the Constitution does not allow a person, who is a minister in a state, to incite a crowd and to humiliate a Prime Minister in this manner," Sushil Modi told PTI.

Nitish shud drop Congress Minister Abdul Jalil Mastan on whose call Cong workers beat PM photo with shoes. — Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) February 28, 2017

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav also condemned Jalil's remarks and said He should have refrained from using such unwarranted words against PM Modi."