Patna: Even as Bihar’s food minister Shyam Rajak sounded a bit harsh chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Thursday clarified his statement given two days ago.

Talking to the media he said he never defended black marketing by small traders as such, but merely said that those traders doing such activities out of ignorance should be treated sympathetically.

Manjhi said that he is otherwise of firm view that those traders indulging in blackmarketing and hoarding of goods must not be spared at all and dealt with firmly as per law.

He described black marketing as a crime and said that there was no question to give leniency to anyone indulging in such activities.

On BJP leaders seeking his resignation for supporting black marketeers and hoarders, he said that they have no other issue to raise and so they are making an issue out of his remark.

Only on Wednesday his cabinet colleague Shyam Rajak too call for strict action against hoarders and blackmarteters.