New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has demanded an apology from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge for referring to Bihar as a 'small' state, calling the remark 'extremely unfortunate' and 'insulting.'

'The Congress President should immediately apologize to the 13 crore people of Bihar,' Rai said in a statement.

Rai termed Kharge's remarks as 'extremely unfortunate' and 'insulting', saying, 'It is extremely unfortunate and insulting that Congress National President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge referred to Bihar as a 'small' state. This is a highly objectionable remark made by him for people of Bihar.'

MoS Rai further said that the 13 crore people of Bihar cannot tolerate the statement of the INC President at all. In fact, Mallikarjun Kharge has not only insulted peoole of Bihar but has also attempted to attack its glorious tradition, culture and public sentiment, which is the real character of the Congress Party.

Former Bihar BJP President and MP from Ujiyarpur reminded the Congress President, 'Bihar is the land of democracy, land of Chanakya, land of heroes, the land of knowledge...Congress President should know that the land of Bihar is the birthplace of Mahavir and also the 'karmabhoomi'of Gautam Buddha.'

Rai further added that Bihar is the land of 'Jannayak' Jayaprakash Narayan, who led against the imposition of the Emergency and brought the whole country together against the Emergency.

'The entire Bihar knows that the vision of the Congress party has never been to develop Bihar but the Congress party should know that this is the same Bihar where Karpoori Thakur worked to strengthen social justice. These days Rahul Gandhi keeps talking about social justice while touring the country and abroad but people of Bihar are not weak. People of Bihar know very well that how to give a reply and just wait for the time,' Rai stated.

The Union MoS also raised questions the silence of Rahul Gandhi LoP Lok Sabha saying that Rahul Gandhi come to Bihar during the election season but his party busy to insulting the people of Bihar from Delhi. (ANI)