Is Bihar Really India's Crime Capital? Rahul Gandhi Questions Nitish Govt

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rahul Gandhi criticizes the Nitish Kumar government.
- Bihar is labeled the 'crime capital of India'.
- Gandhi calls for a change in the upcoming elections.
- The murder of Gopal Khemka raises serious security concerns.
- Political discourse intensifies ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
Patna, July 6 (NationPress) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has made a pointed criticism of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA administration, labeling Bihar as the “crime capital of India”. This statement came in response to the shocking murder of prominent businessman Gopal Khemka in Patna.
In a message shared on the social media platform X on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi remarked: “The brazen murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in Patna has once again proven - the BJP and Nitish Kumar together have turned Bihar into India's crime capital.”
He emphasized that Bihar is currently overshadowed by theft, violence, and homicide, asserting that such events have become the “new normal” under the present government.
“Today, Bihar is living under the shadow of loot, fire, and murder. Incidents like these have become the new normal here, and the government has completely failed. Brothers and sisters of Bihar, this injustice cannot be tolerated any longer. A government that cannot protect your children cannot take responsibility for your future,” Gandhi stated.
Characterizing every crime as “a cry for change,” the Congress leader called on the citizens of Bihar to seek a new direction in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
“Now is the time for a new Bihar, where there is progress, not fear. This time, the vote is not just to change the government but to save Bihar,” Gandhi urged.
The murder of Gopal Khemka occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. on Friday near Gandhi Maidan, just a stone's throw from the local police station and the District Magistrate’s residence, raising serious concerns over security in high-risk areas.
Following the incident, opposition figures, including Tejashwi Yadav and Prashant Kishor, have criticized the Nitish government for its inadequacies in maintaining order in the state.
Even among the ruling NDA, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with LJP (RV) MP Rajesh Verma, have acknowledged that lapses occurred in this case.
This incident has escalated the political discourse in Bihar ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections, placing law and order at the center of the state’s political landscape.