‘Bihar’s Law And Order Collapsed’: NDA’s Chirag Paswan Corners Nitish Govt Over Gopal Khemka Murder
Union Minister Chirag Paswan, a key ally of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), on Sunday expressed deep concern over the killing of businessman Gopal Khemka, stating that the law and order situation in Bihar has deteriorated alarmingly.
“It is a matter of worry the way crime has risen and law and order has collapsed in Bihar. If such an incident has happened in a posh locality of Patna, then we can only imagine what is happening in villages. It is worrying to see such incidents occur under a government that I support, and I am saddened it is happening under a government that was known for good governance; then the opposition will have a chance to speak up. Strict action needs to be taken to set a precedent so that such a thing is not repeated,” Paswan said while addressing reporters, according to ANI.
A day earlier, on Saturday, Chirag Paswan underscored the gravity of the incident, saying he would not shy away from questions and that the matter must be addressed seriously. “This is indeed a matter of concern. I will neither try to run away from this question, nor should our Government attempt to do that… If such a huge incident occurs openly in urban areas, if this happens in such a posh area, it is a very serious matter. I am in touch with the Government as well as with the local administration,” he remarked.
Paswan also noted that such crimes aggravate concerns and that the fears of the victim’s family were entirely justified. “But such incidents aggravate our concerns… If the family (of Gopal Khemka) is scared, it is justified. This is a family that has faced this earlier as well. Did the local administration provide security to the family?… It was the responsibility of the administration,” he added.
Tejashwi Yadav, RJD Leaders Lash Out at Nitish Kumar
Earlier, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav alleged that businessmen were being killed regularly in Bihar, yet the state government refused to acknowledge the lawlessness. “Hundreds of businessmen are being murdered in Bihar every month, but we can’t call it jungle raj? Because this is what the scriptures call media management, perception management, and image management,” Yadav wrote on X in Hindi, translated here.
Yadav also highlighted the proximity of the crime scene to law enforcement, saying, “A few steps away from the police station in Patna, a prominent Bihar businessman was shot dead!”
Echoing the criticism, RJD’s Mrityunjay Tiwari declared that Bihar had “descended into lawlessness” under Nitish Kumar’s leadership and demanded his immediate resignation. “Nitish Kumar is no longer fit to remain on the Chief Minister’s chair even for a moment. Bihar has descended into a state of lawlessness… Only the departure of this government will bring good to Bihar,” Tiwari told ANI.
Meanwhile, Bihar Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Patna Central Superintendent of Police to probe Gopal Khemka’s murder, ANI reported.
india