Nitish holds janata darbar despite death of mother

PATNA: Discharging his ‘rajdharma’ despite bereavement following his mother’s death, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today heard grievances of hundreds of people at a ‘janata darbar’ here.

Kumar’s mother Parmeshwari Devi (92) died after protracted illness on the New Year day and was cremated yesterday.

The Chief Minister came out to hear the grievances of visitors about matters relating to police, land reforms and revenue departments as per schedule and disposed of several cases.

“Though for me it is a period of bereavement because I lost my mother, and my colleagues suggested me not to attend today’s programme, I preferred to hold the programme as people thronged my house from far-flung areas,” Kumar told reporters.

Stating that had he suspended the programme, it would have disappointed those who turned up with great hope, the Chief Miniser said, “I have discharged Rajdharma (duty) by listening to the grievances and problems of people and asked the officials concerned to take immediate steps to resolve them.”

“My mother always told me to render services to the common people and my action will give her peace,” he said.

Kumar said people of the state had reposed full faith in him and “I’ll always engage myself to come up to their expectations”.