Lagatar24 Desk
Patna: LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday unleashed a sharp attack on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, publicly expressing shame over supporting the state government amid a dramatic surge in violent crime. With the upcoming assembly elections, Chirag’s grave remarks have heightened political tremors within the BJP-led NDA alliance.
Law and Order Under Fire
Addressing reporters, Chirag voiced anguish about “uncontrolled” crime across Bihar, stating, “I feel sad that I am supporting a government where crime has become rampant.” He pointed to a relentless series of murders, rapes, kidnappings, and robberies, accusing the administration of bowing before criminals or potentially even colluding with them. Highlighting tragic incidents—such as the alleged rape of a woman candidate inside an ambulance in Gaya, and the killings of gangster Chandan Mishra, industrialist Gopal Khemka, sand trader Ramakant Yadav, and trader Vikram Jha—he argued that Biharis “no longer feel safe.” The law-and-order crisis, he warned, threatens to become “frightening, rather, it has become so” already.
Political Reactions and Alliance Strains
Chirag admitted that some crimes might be politically motivated to tarnish the government’s image as polls approach but insisted that maintaining order remains the administration’s duty. Within the NDA, his allies are taking note: HAM leader and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi acknowledged tensions but urged unity behind Nitish and the NDA, while the opposition seized on Chirag’s criticism to highlight rifts within the ruling camp. Despite his strong words, Chirag stressed his party’s total support for the NDA candidates across all 243 seats and ruled out repeating the 2020 move of breaking ranks to contest solo, reaffirming commitment to the alliance for the upcoming elections.
