Patna, Nov 17: Railway Minister Nitish Kumar today strongly denied having incited regional passions in the wake of attack on candidates from Bihar appearing for recruitment tests of the Railways by their Assamese counterparts on November nine that triggered a spate of violence in the two states. "I have never said anything to incite regional passions in the wake of attack on Bihari aspirants for job in the Railways by the Assamese youth. I am very sad that some political elements having vested interests are pointing an accusing finger at me for the violence that is taking place in the two states," Kumar told.
There were reports in a section of the press that Kumar on coming to know about attack on candidates from Bihar had said that they should have fought back.
"This (the allegation) is a great injustice to me. I have always asked the students and people of the two states to maintain restraint and announced holding of examinations fresh for those who could not appear for the test because of the violence," he said.
Kumar said he took up the issue of violence between the youths of the two states with RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav and asked him to speak to the Chief Minister of Assam to ease tensions.
The Director General of Railway Protection Force was entrusted the task of holding peaceful tests and Railway Police personnel were pressed into service to ward off attacks on the innocent people and railway property, he said. Bureau Report