Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar over the killing of a government official inside his office in Bhagalpur. The party alleged that the incident exposed growing criminal patronage under the ruling alliance and reflected a supremacy battle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)).
Press Conference Allegations
Addressing a press conference in Patna, state chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said the manner in which the Bhagalpur incident was being discussed since morning indicated an attempt by the ruling establishment to divert attention and shield itself from accountability. He was joined by state spokespersons Ejaz Ahmad, Arun Kumar Yadav, and Pramod Kumar Sinha, along with Panchayati Raj Prakostha state president Mahendra Prasad Vidyarthi and Ati Pichhda Prakostha state spokesperson Upendra Chandravanshi.
Caste Divisions and Crime
Yadav stated that crime and criminals had no caste, but accused former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of deepening caste divisions in Bihar over the past two decades. He emphasized that the RJD had always supported efforts to make Bihar crime-free and would back any impartial action taken by the government.
Allegations of Power-Protected Criminals
The RJD leader alleged that “power-protected criminals” were being encouraged in the state. Referring to a 2023 clash involving Ramadhani Yadav and Rajkumar, in which Ramadhani was shot at, he claimed the latest incident in Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, was part of a continuing supremacy struggle involving leaders linked to the BJP and the JD(U).
Photographs and Political Links
Displaying photographs at the press conference, Yadav alleged that criminals enjoyed proximity to influential political figures and said this explained their lack of fear. He asked ruling alliance leaders to clarify their alleged closeness to individuals accused of criminal links.
Electoral Connections
He also referred to the 2020 assembly elections, stating that Ramadhani’s wife, Neelam Devi, had contested on a Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) ticket, while her son Sunny Yadav was associated with JD(U) MLC Vijay Singh.
The RJD’s allegations come amid heightened political tensions in Bihar, with the opposition party seeking to hold the NDA government accountable for law and order failures.
