The home minister of Goa, a politician by the name of Ravi Naik and
belonging to a national party – The Indian National Congress, recently
made some rather unprovoked and disparaging remarks about Biharis
while intervening in a debate on beggars in Goa.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Trains_from_Patna_bring_beggars/articl\
eshow/3381301.cms

What is more, when pointed out that his comment is in bad taste, he
has refused to apologise for his highly provocative statement.

http://www.patnadaily.com/news2008/aug/082008/nitish_criticize_goa_minister.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/I_never_said_Biharis_are_beggars_s\
ays_Naik/articleshow/3386446.cms#write

Funnily, he admits that he talked of the train from Patna to Goa when
intervening on the debate in Goa assembly on beggars, but says he
should not apologise because he never called Biharis as beggars. We
know that politicians specialise in taking people for a ride, but does
he take us all for complete nincompoops? What was he attempting if not
making a disparaging statement about Biharis?

It pains to say that this minister belongs to a party which once had
Gandhi, Nehru and Patel as its leaders.

The unfortunate thing is that this minister is not the only one of his
ilk. Some time back, the CM of Delhi Sheila Dixit had made a statement
that problems of Delhi are due to the influx of Biharis. At least she
had the good sense to clarify her stand and for the hurt sentiments of
people. But the Union Minister Anbumani Ramdoss who made the rather
provocative statement that UK derecognized Indian medical degrees due
to inept Bihari doctors did not deem it necessary to apologise.

What to talk of politicians, journalists and academics show similarly
biased attitude. Rajdeep Sardesai, editor of a national level TV
channel chose to denigrate Bihar when he wanted to draw attention to
the shortcomings of Maharashtra. Dr Ashish Bose, a retired govt
servant who all his life has drawn his income from the consolidated
funds of the Govt of India proudly declares that he coined the epithet
BIMARU. Even official planning commission records use this derogatory
term. In the last 25 odd years that this term has been in use, Bihar
has slipped lower and lower in all economic indices as such thinking
took away the dignity (Asmita) of the people of Bihar who could not
muster the courage to demand what is rightfully theirs. Even high
court judges have publicly made statements derogatory to Bihar and
Biharis when the case they were hearing had nothing at all whatsoever
to do with Bihar.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hyderabad/MBBS_scam_in_Bihar_style_HC/article\
show/2212504.cms

It is truly sad that even people holding such responsible positions
think nothing while making such objectionable statements.

One reason why people make such statements and get away with it is
because we as Biharis have never protested it. In fact, some among us
even justify these. (The other reason is of course the lack of
economic development in Bihar, but that is a separate topic in itself
requiring another post). Ravi Naik and others of his ilk have no sense
of the damage they cause by their utterly irresponsible statements.
They have no understanding of the impact of their statement. Not
having a liberal outlook, they just go by their ethnocentric
instincts. They also have no fear of a reaction, much less, a
reprisal. They are smug in their belief that what they are doing is
right, howsoever reprehensible their behaviour may be.

If we do not wish to see our youth and our poorest of the poor, the
two most vulnerable sections of our society stigmatized any more, we
as a civil society will have to take proactive steps to correct the
situation. This constant barrage of insults will only stop if it
becomes expensive for people making them.

As a first step, I would strongly urge that we make an appeal to the
national leadership of the congress party: the PM Dr Manmohan Singh,
the party president Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and its General Secretary Mr
Rahul Gandhi to rein in their ill mannered minister. I am sure if an
appeal with thousands of signatures is put up in front of them, they
are bound to notice it and some action will be taken.

I would like to make a request to all to examine the feasibility of
putting up a petition of this nature where patrons can put in their
names.

If we do not protest such blatantly abusive statements, we will have
no one but ourselves to blame for the continued insults heaped on us.