Union Minister Chirag Paswan has sharply criticised governance in Bihar, saying the state’s “law and order has collapsed”. He cited the murders of two young men in Nalanda district and the high‑profile killing of industrialist Gopal Khemka in Patna as evidence of a severe breakdown.
Paswan’s remarks carry added weight because he represents an NDA ally and remains part of the coalition he now openly rebukes. He addressed reporters in Patna, warning that if such violent acts can occur in “posh localities” and the Chief Minister’s own home district, rural areas must be far worse. He demanded exemplary action to ensure accountability and to stem growing public alarm over safety.
The sequence of violent incidents shows a disturbing trend. Last Friday, businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead near Gandhi Maidan, rekindling public memories of a similar tragedy in 2018 when his son was murdered. Meanwhile, in Nalanda, the slayings of a 16‑ and a 20‑year‑old shocked the community and intensified Paswan’s critique.
State leadership has responded with an emergency review. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar convened an urgent meeting following Khemka’s death to assess police performance and launched a Special Investigation Team to lead the probe. The SIT, headed by the Patna Central Superintendent of Police, has initiated searches in Beur prison and confiscated evidence such as mobile phones and SIM cards.
Political spin has quickly followed. Opposition figures like Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD condemned the state government, arguing that the spate of killings proves a return to “jungle raj” rather than the claimed “rule of law”. Lalu Prasad Yadav, another senior RJD leader, stated that more than 65,000 murders have occurred under Nitish Kumar’s tenure and accused the ruling coalition of dismantling police efficacy.
Even BJP voices are expressing concern. Though usually a staunch defender of the Nitish‑Modi alliance, BJP leader Sanjay Jaiswal shared villagers’ complaints of unchecked theft and police indifference—a rare public critique from within the NDA. The party’s image as guarantor of law and order in Bihar now faces a credibility test.
Chirag Paswan has adopted an increasingly assertive posture. Beyond his criticisms, he has revived his “Bihar First, Bihari First” campaign and announced that his Lok Janshakti Party will contest all 243 assembly seats in the upcoming October–November polls. He is positioning himself as an independent, states‑first voice, diverging sharply from the JDU‑BJP narrative. His push for a domicile policy and clear focus on law and order mark a partisan shift that could upset NDA unity.
Analysts observe that Paswan’s bold positioning serves both political and electoral purposes. By drawing attention to governance failures, he aims to erode public confidence in Nitish Kumar’s leadership and distinguish his own credentials ahead of what will be a fiercely contested assembly election.
Meanwhile, public sentiment is turning sharply uneasy. Businesspeople report fear not only from the targeted killings but also from a broader rise in crime, including loot, kidnapping, and rape—crimes they say are executed with increasing impunity. Shankar Khemka, brother of the slain businessman, stated that the situation now rivals or even surpasses the severity of the 1990s “jungle raj”.
Nitish Kumar’s government insists it is taking prompt action. Official statements note the formation of the SIT, regular reviews by the chief minister, and commitments to swift justice. However, critics say these steps are reactive and insufficient unless accompanied by systemic policing reforms.
The unfolding developments position law and order as a key battleground in Bihar’s election. Paswan’s criticism of his own alliance’s leadership signals a deeper fissure within the NDA at a critical political moment. As campaigning intensifies, voters will closely monitor whether the government can translate rhetoric into results, restoring safety and faith in governance across the state.
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