"Biharis form 20 per cent of the population in Delhi. They contribute significantly to the city's economy. If they stop working for a day, Delhi would come to an halt. I am not saying they should stop work, but that is the potential of Biharis," Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said addressing a function to mark 100 years of formation of Bihar.
"Biharis are not a burden, but an assest...Big farmers and entrepreneurs in Punjab are complaining labour shortage because of decrease in arrival of labourers from Bihar who are getting employment in their native places itself," he added.
"It is wrong to say that people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are forced to go outside for begging. They indeed go not only to different parts of the country but also abroad to contribute to their economic growth," he said.
