Dhobi stir: Won’t wash for Rabri

It’s time for Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and some of her ministerial colleagues, to wash their linen on their own. In a protest m...

It’s time for Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and some of her ministerial colleagues, to wash their linen on their own. In a protest move against the state proposal to construct a haat bazar at the new capital dhobi ghat premises, washermen have decided to wash their hands off any washing for the Chief Minister and her ministers.

‘‘We will hold a dharna in front of the Patna Commissioner’s office on October 16 to protest and if our demand is not conceded, washermen will stop cleaning the clothes of the CM, other ministers and legislators after October 16,’’ Patna Zila Razak Samiti general secretary Dular Chand Razak said.

The washermen were given dhobi pass by the British rulers to allow them to wash clothes at 15 washing pits constructed in the premises. Hundreds of washermen clean clothes on these pits in shifts everyday. “We have been paying tax to the Patna municipal corporation regularly. Construction of the bazar on our land would be an attack on our rights,” said Prasad.

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On the recommendation of a committee of legislative council headed by MLC P. K. Sinha, stressing the need for haat bazars in Patna for vegetable, chicken and mutton sellers who sell their goods at makeshift shops on road side leading to traffic congestion, the Commissioner had selected five sites including the new capital dhobi ghat.

Sinha termed the washermen agitation as ‘‘unwanted’’ and said the site for the proposed construction a vacant plot and would not disturb their washing pits.

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