Patna:

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday offered a cryptic response to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s “doors open” statement to rejoin the opposition INDIA bloc. When questioned by journalists about Mr Yadav’s remarks, Mr Kumar folded his hands, smiled, and curtly responded, “Kya bol rahe hain (What are you saying?)” without elaborating further.

This exchange comes in the wake of Mr Yadav’s statement during an interview, where he said, “Our doors are open for Nitish Kumar. He should also unbolt his gates. This would facilitate movement of people from both sides.”

#WATCH | Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reacts on being asked about Lalu Prasad Yadav’s statement. pic.twitter.com/6Gxb9iOZgP

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2025

Mr Yadav’s statement has since fueled speculation in Bihar about the possibility of another alliance between the two veteran leaders, often referred to as “bada bhai, chhota bhai” (big brother, little brother) in Bihar’s political circles. 

Mr Yadav’s overture to Mr Kumar follows a history of turbulent alliances. Mr Kumar, leader of the Janata Dal (United), has aligned with the RJD twice in the last decade, most recently as part of the Mahagathbandhan before switching sides to rejoin the BJP-led NDA in 2024. 

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son and heir apparent in the RJD, downplayed his father’s remarks, suggesting they were made to “satisfy the curiosity of the media.” Speaking to journalists at the swearing-in ceremony of  new Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Tejashwi Yadav said, “What else would he (Lalu Yadav) say? He was simply addressing your questions.”

Tejashwi Yadav, however, added that the new year would witness the end of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government. He further accused Mr Kumar of being “captive” to a small group of close advisors and no longer capable of running Bihar independently.

Union Minister and JD(U) leader Lalan Singh dismissed Lalu Yadav’s remarks. “The NDA is strong. JD(U) and BJP are united. People can say whatever they want – it is a free country,” he said. 

Patna:

A dispute with a party colleague over not being invited to an event has led to a district president of the women’s cell of the ruling Janata Dal United in Bihar being thrashed and paraded with slippers around her neck. 

The woman was allegedly beaten up so badly by her JDU colleague – a ward councillor – and his supporters that she had to be hospitalised. The ward councillor has been taken into custody and a video of the incident is being widely circulated. 

Police officials said a JDU programme had been organised in Bairgania block of Sitamarhi district on Wednesday but Kamini Patel, who is the district president of the women’s cell of the party, was not invited. This led to a lot of discussion on Facebook and some comments were made by Ms Patel and some other people. 

On Thursday morning, Ms Patel reached the house of Ward Councillor Sanjay Singh to discuss the issue and a heated argument broke out between them. Ms Patel, officials said, was then surrounded by the ward councillor’s supporters and beaten up. She was then made to wear a garland of slippers, called a thief and paraded on the streets near the ward councillor’s house. 

Videos showed Ms Patel with a swollen face, bruises on her body and slippers around her neck. She was taken to a local hospital in an unconscious state and then referred to a healthcare facility in Muzaffarpur.

Superintendent of Police, Sitamarhi, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, said, “We have taken action and Ward Councillor Sanjay Singh has been taken into custody. It appears to be a dispute over some comments made on Facebook.”

New Delhi:

The dissent against the Uttar Pradesh government’s order to eateries to display names of owners during kanwar yatra has spread to the ruling alliance. Two Union ministers who are BJP allies have appealed to the state to roll back its decision. A third party, NItish Kumar’s Janata Dal United, has also criticised the order, calling it an example of discrimination.

After Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan — who handles the Food Processing industries portfolio at the Centre — Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary today said kanwariyas ask no-one their religion when they seek service. Neither should the matter (serving kanwariyas) be linked to any religion, he added.

“It seems that the order was taken without much thought and the government is adamant on it because the decision has been taken,” Mr Chaudhary — junior minister for education who has independent charge of skill development — was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India.

“There is still time. It (roll back) should happen or the government should not put much emphasis on (implementing) it,” he added.

Mr Chaudhary also questioned if one should wear a name tag on one’s clothes to identify one’s religion. “Where all one would be made to place these identifiers! Should we now wear name tags too? So that one knows who to shake hands with?” said Mr Chaudhary, whose party has its stronghold in western Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, Union minister Chirag Paswan had unequivocally opposed the order, saying he would “absolutely… never support or encourage” any divide in the name of caste or religion.

Another BJP ally, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), has also criticised the move. Party leader KC Tyagi has said the order should be withdrawn as it may cause communal tension. There should be no discrimination based on religion or caste, he said.

The Muzaffarnagar Police order to eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owners’ names, has now been extended across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The order has been hugely criticised by the Opposition parties, who maintain it targets Muslim traders.

The matter came up in the traditional all-party meet held ahead of parliament’s budget session today. The Opposition parties made it clear that this will be one of the issues that will come up during the session.

Congress leader K Suresh said the party’s senior leader Gaurav Gogoi and Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh criticised the decision at the meeting.

(With agencies)

Patna:

While JD-U leaders continue to demand special status for Bihar, Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi asserted that the NITI Aayog has clearly ruled out the provision for any state, but noted the state’s financial needs will be met.

“The NITI Aayog has clearly denied special status to any state in the country. People from different political parties can do anything, but special status will not be given to any state,” he said while interacting with media persons in Hajipur.

He added that the Central government has assured financial assistance to Bihar. “Whatever amount of money is needed for development, the central government and PM Narendra Modi will provide it,” Jitan Ram Manjhi said.

Since the formation of the NDA government at the Centre, JD-U leaders have been advocating for special status for Bihar and Water Resource Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Building Construction Minister Ashok Choudhary have been vocal in their demands.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders like RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress leader Meira Kumar have mocked the JD-U for seeking special status from the BJP despite being part of the NDA government.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Patna:

Janata Dal United (JDU) MLA Gopal Mandal got enraged when asked by journalists why he had carried a revolver to a hospital recently and said, “Baap ho ki mana karoge?”

“Ha, lehrayethe (Yes, I brandished my weapon). Tum log humare baap ho ki mana karoge? (Are you my father that you will stop me?)” the JDU Minister said in a heated moment, speaking to reporters in Patna on Friday.

The MLA was also heard hurling expletives at the reporters surrounding him.

However, initially, Mr Mandal tried to tone down his action saying that he had placed his revolver in his pyjamas and it slipped.

“I had taken the revolver and kept it in my pyjama. Just when I placed my foot on the stairs it slipped. Are you journalists or what. I find it difficult placing it on my waist,” he said.

The JDU MLA waded into a controversy when a video surfaced in which he was purportedly holding a pistol while walking into the state-run Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Bihar’s Bhagalpur.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has earlier criticised the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for bringing about ‘jungle raj‘ (reign of crime) in the state. The video offers fresh ammunition to the BJP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)