BIHAR MINISTER’S CONTROVERSIAL REMARK, MUDER WILL HAPPEN

BIHAR MINISTER’S CONTROVERSIAL REMARK, MUDER WILL HAPPEN

18-OCT-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------A recent controversial statement by Bihar Minister Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha has triggered strong criticism and political debate in the state. The JD(U) leader, responding to questions from reporters about recent murders in Bhojpur district, said words to the effect of “Murder will happen… what can one do? Murders keep happening. Bihar is such a large state.”

The remarks came amid growing concerns over law and order. In one incident, an 18-year-old youth, Shantnu Kumar, was shot dead by bike-borne assailants at a Durga Puja fair in Bhojpur. Around the same time, retired customs officer and Kshatriya Kalyan Sangathan Bihar president Ramkumar (or Ram Pukar) Singh was also gunned down in Ara. When journalists pressed the minister on these killings, he appeared irritated and delivered the now-viral comments.

Kushwaha further questioned why reporters were asking him about the cases, suggesting they investigate themselves as the “fourth pillar of democracy.” He maintained that the government’s authority had not diminished and assured that action would be taken, claiming he had spoken to senior police officials including the SP and IG. He also noted that such incidents were not new to Bhojpur.

The statement has been widely described as insensitive and irresponsible, especially coming from a sitting minister while addressing questions linked to the killing of citizens. Opposition voices and social media users have criticised it as reflecting a casual attitude toward crime and public safety. The remarks add to existing political pressure on the state government over law-and-order issues.

Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, a JD(U) leader in the Bihar government, has faced controversy before. The video circulating on the topic, shared by channels such as Bihar Tak, captures the exchange and has amplified public discussion around the minister’s comments and the broader question of safety in the state.

The episode underscores ongoing debates about crime, accountability, and political response in Bihar.