Bihar Health Minister Ashwini Chaube's warning to junior doctors against resorting to frequent strikes and punitive action against them has generated controversy with a section of the medicos threatening indefinite strike.

"We also know about taking stern action ... We also know how to chop off hands ... We have to implement the system in place for welfare system. We will take stringent measures against those who pose an affront to the public welfare system," he had said at a function at the launch of a health awareness campaign on Saturday.

The statement generated controversy with a section of the junior doctors criticising the minister for making such statements and even threatened indefinite strike.

When contacted, Chaube said he had just used a proverb for taking a punitive action (against junior doctors of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) rpt Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

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"But it does not mean that I ever spoke about chopping off hands of the junior doctors," he said. The health services suffered a lot as junior doctors struck work frequently demanding higher stipend, he added.

Legislative council chairman Tarakant Jha, who also addressed yesterday's function, had said health services particularly in rural areas were not upto the mark and suggested that health minister should suggest an action plan for improving the existing medical services in Bihar.

Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh, Urban Development Minister Prem Kumar also spoke at the function.