Is Chirag Paswan Right to Question Nitish Kumar over Crime Surge?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chirag Paswan's criticism highlights growing concerns about crime in Bihar.
- The business community is increasingly fearful amid rising violence.
- Political tensions within the NDA may impact the upcoming elections.
- Chirag's remarks reflect broader issues of governance in the state.
- Opposition leaders are leveraging this situation to question the ruling coalition.
Patna, July 12 (NationPress) As incidents of murders and attacks on businessmen escalate in Bihar, Chirag Paswan, the chief of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), has openly criticized the governance of Nitish Kumar, amplifying the unease within the ruling NDA coalition.
In a sharp social media post, Paswan questioned: “How many more murders will Biharis endure? It is hard to comprehend the responsibility of the Bihar Police.”
His comments arise amid a surge of criminal acts in Patna, highlighted by the recent assassination of prominent businessman Gopal Khemka, followed by the murders of grocery trader Vikram Jha and sand trader Ramakant Yadav, which has instilled fear in the local business community.
While opposition figures, including Tejashwi Yadav and members of the Congress party, have persistently criticized the Nitish government for the decline in law and order, Paswan’s remarks, coming from an ally of the NDA, indicate growing discontent within the ruling coalition.
Previously, LJP (RV) Khagaria MP Rajesh Verma had publicly declared that law and order in Bihar has deteriorated under the current leadership, prompting a strong rebuttal from JDU leader and Bihar minister Maheshwar Hazari, who challenged Chirag to clarify his intentions regarding the alliance.
Chirag’s brother-in-law and Jamui MP Arun Bharti also recently voiced concerns about the escalating crime wave in Bihar, emphasizing that “one cannot be a Dhritarashtra for the nation” while disregarding the harsh realities.
Chirag’s direct challenge to the government heightens speculation among political analysts regarding the strained relations within the NDA ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections.
The ongoing public criticism from leaders of LJP (Ram Vilas) raises alarms about the coherence and unity within the NDA, as Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha continues to assert that the Nitish government is dedicated to curbing crime.
Bihar has experienced a series of high-profile attacks and murders, instilling fear among both businessmen and residents, while providing fodder for the opposition and even NDA partners to question the effectiveness of governance and policing under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.