Misa Bharti slams Bihar govt over student lathi-charge, law and order
Synopsis
RJD MP Misa Bharti has branded Bihar’s ruling administration a ‘lathi-charge government’ after police action on Patna students, while raising pointed questions about Nitish Kumar’s public absence and alleging that officers linked to the Siwan AK-47 incident are being rewarded with choice postings. The broadside covers law and order, sugar prices, and INDIA bloc fault lines — all in a single press offensive.
Key Takeaways
RJD MP Misa Bharti on 26 August called the Samrat Choudhary -led Bihar government a ‘lathi-charge government’ over police action on protesting students in Patna .
Bharti alleged the Siwan DM and SP , removed after an AK-47 firing incident , are having their next postings delayed while the government seeks lucrative assignments for them.
She criticised ministers over the sharp rise in sugar prices , rejecting the claim that higher prices benefit farmers.
Bharti raised questions about Nitish Kumar ’s public silence, asking who should inform citizens about his condition if he is not unwell.
She questioned Upendra Kushwaha ’s claim to Bihar’s political legacy, citing tensions within the INDIA bloc.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Misa Bharti, the eldest daughter of party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, on Wednesday, 26 August launched a scathing attack on the Bihar government over recent police action against protesting students in Patna, branding the Samrat Choudhary-led administration a “lathi-charge government.” The remarks mark one of the RJD’s sharpest public offensives against the ruling dispensation in recent weeks.
Student Protests and Police Action
Bharti alleged that the students were demonstrating peacefully when the state government ordered police to use force against them. She maintained that the protesters’ demands were legitimate and accused the ruling party of reflexively dismissing any agitation as “sponsored” whenever the opposition extended its support. This pattern, critics argue, effectively delegitimises dissent by associating it with political interference rather than addressing the underlying grievances.
Law and Order Under Scrutiny
The RJD MP also trained her sights on the broader law-and-order situation in Bihar, citing incidents involving firearms and alleged criminal activity. On the recent removal of the Siwan District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police following an AK-47 firing incident, Bharti alleged that their subsequent postings were being deliberately delayed because the government was searching for lucrative assignments for the two officers. The allegation, which the government has not publicly addressed, adds to opposition claims of administrative favouritism in transfers and postings.
Sugar Prices and Ministerial Claims
Bharti also took aim at Bihar ministers over the sharp rise in sugar prices. Responding to a minister’s claim that higher sugar prices could benefit farmers, she countered that farmers gain only when they are able to sell their sugarcane at remunerative prices — a distinction she said the government was glossing over. In a pointed aside, she sarcastically asked whether citizens should have no cause for concern even if sugar prices were to reach Rs 1,000 per kilogram.
Questions Over Nitish Kumar’s Condition
On former Chief Minister and current ally Nitish Kumar’s conspicuous public silence, Bharti said his health could be a reason, adding that she did not wish to comment further given her family’s longstanding personal relationship with him. However, she questioned who bore the responsibility of informing the public about his condition if he was, in fact, not unwell. She alleged that when she greeted Kumar, responses came from Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh rather than from Kumar directly, and called on both leaders to clarify his actual status.
INDIA Bloc Tensions and Upendra Kushwaha
Amid reported differences within the INDIA bloc and an ongoing debate over political legacy in Bihar, Bharti also criticised Upendra Kushwaha, questioning his claim to that legacy. She alleged that several political leaders were more focused on personal interests than on the state’s pressing concerns. The remarks reflect simmering tensions within the broader opposition alliance ahead of the next electoral cycle in Bihar.
Point of View
It points to a systemic problem with accountability in Bihar’s administrative transfers, not merely a political one. The questions about Nitish Kumar’s health and public presence are the sharpest element of the presser, precisely because they are the hardest for the ruling coalition to answer without either confirming a vacuum of leadership or producing Kumar visibly. Bihar’s 2025 political calendar makes every such exchange a rehearsal for the next assembly contest.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Misa Bharti attack the Bihar government on 26 August?
Misa Bharti criticised the Bihar government over police use of force against protesting students in Patna, calling the administration a ‘lathi-charge government.’ She also raised concerns about law and order, sugar prices, and Nitish Kumar’s public absence.
What is the Siwan AK-47 incident Misa Bharti referred to?
Bharti referred to an incident in Siwan involving AK-47 firing, after which the district’s DM and SP were removed. She alleged their subsequent postings are being delayed because the government is looking for lucrative assignments for them, an allegation the government has not publicly addressed.
What did Misa Bharti say about Nitish Kumar’s silence?
Bharti said Kumar’s health could explain his public silence but stopped short of elaborating, citing her family’s personal relationship with him. She questioned who should inform the public about his condition and alleged that when she greeted him, responses came from Sanjay Jha and Lalan Singh rather than Kumar himself.
What is Misa Bharti’s position on rising sugar prices in Bihar?
Bharti rejected the government’s claim that higher sugar prices benefit farmers, arguing that farmers gain only when they receive remunerative prices for their sugarcane. She sarcastically suggested that by the government’s logic, citizens should not worry even if sugar reached Rs 1,000 per kilogram.
What did Misa Bharti say about Upendra Kushwaha and the INDIA bloc?
Bharti questioned Kushwaha’s claim to Bihar’s political legacy and alleged that several leaders within the broader opposition alliance were prioritising personal interests over the state’s concerns, reflecting tensions within the INDIA bloc.
