Naik clarifies beggar remarks, refuses to apologise

Goa Home Minister Ravi Naik has refused to apologise for his alleged remarks on beggars, which created a storm in Bihar, saying his utterances were "misunderstood"."I never said that Biharis are beggars. While referring to the rail link from Patna, I said usually beggars from other states come here by train. I did not mean that Biharis are beggars," Naik on Wednesday said after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar demanded an apology from him."So, why should I apologise when I did not hurt Biharis?" he said.The Home Minister had on Tuesday in the Legislative Assembly had said that the proposed Patna-Vasco train would increase the number of beggars in the costal state. The House was discussing the increasing number of beggars in the state and means to control them.Naik said Union Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav called him up on Wednesday morning to seek details on his statement."Lalu Prasad Yadav had called me and was asking about the reported statement. I told him that the statement was not anti-Bihari and was misunderstood by the media," Naik said.


Every text has to be taken in its context. Since according to him beggars come to Goa by trains, what's the big deal about them coming in by a particular train from Bihar? All sorts of people come and go by trains. Therefore speaking in the context of this particular train, he has in effect called its potential passengers beggars and by extension, non-Goans beggars. He must have spoken out his contempt for people of other states. Such a person is not fit to hold public office as an Indian. He must be sacked, an apology is not good enough.