‘Feel sorry to support Bihar government’: Chirag Paswan’s fresh salvo at ally Nitish Kumar over rising crime

Union minister Chirag Paswan on Saturday took a broadside at the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar over the rising number of crimes in the state. 

 

The Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP’s remarks came in the wake of an alleged gang-rape of a 26-year-old woman inside a moving ambulance in Bodh Gaya.

 

LJP (Ram Vilas) is a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance, which Nitish’s JD(U) is also a part of.

 

"I have heard claims that the recent spurt in violent crimes is linked to the upcoming assembly polls, and there are attempts to defame this government. Still, it is the responsibility of the administration to keep the law and order situation under control. I feel sorry to support a government which is failing on this count," said Chirag, who represents the Hajipur constituency.

 

Terming the situation in the state as ‘scary’, Chirag said the administrative failure is being blamed on both rank incompetence and connivance with criminals.

 

"Authorities concerned have miserably failed to check the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Law and order have collapsed. The situation is almost out of control. It needs to be checked immediately," he said, and claimed that almost every day, incidents of murder, kidnapping, dacoity and rape are being reported from the state.

 

Chirag’s scathing remarks on the Nitish government assume significance as there are reports that the Union minister is keen on playing a bigger role in the state politics after the upcoming assembly elections. Chirag has already made it clear that he would contest the state polls.

 

The LJP (Ram Vilas) leader of late has been taking potshots at the Bihar police and the law and order situation, which are viewed as aimed at the chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio.

 

His attacks on the government were in the wake of a spate of murder incidents in Patna, Saran and Mazaffarpur, which have put the state government on the back foot ahead of polls.

 

In the latest shocker, a 26-year-old woman, who fainted during a home guard recruitment drive, was allegedly gang-raped inside a moving ambulance in Bodh Gaya district of Bihar.

 

The woman, a resident of Imamganj area, alleged that she was raped by three to four men inside the vehicle while she was unconscious. Two persons have already been arrested in connection with the incident.

India