Atal Bihari ‘by birth’

In an apparent attempt at making amends for his off-the-cuff remark that had hurt many a Bihari, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said he was a ‘‘Bihari by birth’’.

‘‘Main janmajaat Bihari hoon (I am a Bihari by birth),’’ the Prime Minister told an election meeting here in a bid to smoothen feathers ruffled by his remark made at a public function sometime ago where he had said he was Atal but not a Bihari.

‘‘Main hi kyon, mere sabhi teen bhai bhi janmajaat Bihari hain — prem Bihari, sada Bihari aur avadh Bihari,’’ he told the gathering amid thunderous applause.

Vajpayee’s earlier remark was exploited to the hilt by RJD chief Laloo Yadav, who said it had hurt Bihari sensibilities, and his party workers had staged protests at several places to give vent to their anger.