Nitish Kumar again regrets controversial remarks of two ministers

PATNA: With two of his ministers served showcause for controversial remarks on the killing of soldiers along LoC, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday once again regretted the episode and said he was personally pained over it.

"It is most unfortunate (remarks of ministers). I am personally pained by it," Kumar told reporters regretting the episode.

"I have already expressed sorrow and disappointment over the remarks of the ministers in the wake of killing of five soldiers......I do not want to repeat the issue again and again as I'm really pained by it," the CM said emerging from "Janata ke darbar mein mukhya mantri" programme.

Asked if the party was contemplating action against the erring ministers, the CM said JD(U) national President Sharad Yadav has already served them showcause.

"When our party president is seized of the matter I need not say anything on it," he added.

Cracking whip on the two ministers, JD(U) President yesterday issued showcause notice to two Bihar ministers asking why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

In separate notices to Rural Development Minister Bhim Singh and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh, party president Sharad Yadav said that their statements were "against the policy, ethics and norms of JD(U)" and asked them to explain within seven days "why disciplinary action should not be taken against you on the above misconduct".

On Thursday, Bhim Singh had said that policemen and soldiers are recruited to make sacrifices for the nation, for which he later apologised.

"I don't believe that Pakistan is responsible for the incident (killing of five Indian soldiers by Pakistani army on the LoC in Poonch district) on Tuesday," Agriculture minister Narendra Singh said on Saturday, in remarks which came as further embarrassment for the Nitish Kumar led JD(U) government.