Patna: Bihar Governor M Rama Jois today (Jan 26, 2004) touched off controversy at the official Republic Day function by criticising his own Rabri Devi Government, saying that fear and terror were uppermost in the minds of people of the State, as an annoyed RJD (Rashtriya Janata Party) chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said he would meet and urge President A P J Abdul Kalam to remove Jois.

Unfurling the national flag at the historic Gandhi Maidan, Jois said a sense of insecurity had gripped the people of Bihar and it was painful to learn from newspaper reports that people of other States were afraid of sending their wards to Bihar to take part in any function.

Jois called on those entrusted with the responsibility of law and order to do so without fear or bias to change the situation and re-establish an atmosphere of peace and security in the State.

This drew an angry response from the RJD chief, who said at the function that he would lodge a formal complaint with the President for the uncharitable remarks made by Jois.

"I will call on the President to complain to him about the manner in which the Governor violated constitutional norms and decorum. I will present Kalam the text of Jois' speech and request his removal," Laloo Yadav said.

He also told a reporter that he would raise the issue in the coming session of Parliament.

"The Governor has spoken in the language of the Sangh Parivar. Today when the nation is paying homage to its martyrs, he has used the occasion to put across his view as an RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) man," he said.