Patna: The political atmosphere in Bihar has grown increasingly charged following the broad-daylight murder of prominent Patna businessman Gopal Khemka, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government of presiding over a spiralling law and order crisis.
In a scathing social media post on Sunday, Gandhi labelled Bihar as the “crime capital of India,” asserting that criminal violence has become the “new normal” under the state’s current leadership.
“Today Bihar is living under the shadow of loot, bullets and murder. Crime has become the ‘new normal’ here. And the government has completely failed,” Gandhi wrote. “Brothers and sisters of Bihar, this injustice cannot be tolerated anymore. The government which cannot protect your children, cannot even take responsibility for your future. Every murder, every loot, every bullet, is a cry for change. 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’s remarks come shortly after RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav similarly condemned the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government, intensifying the political fallout over the killing.
Khemka, owner of Magadh Hospital and a well-known figure in Patna’s business circles, was shot dead late on July 4 near Gandhi Maidan police station. Attackers reportedly fired at close range before fleeing, leaving the state capital stunned and reigniting criticism of the government’s ability to protect entrepreneurs and the public at large.
In recent months, several high-profile murders of businessmen have rattled Bihar, fuelling opposition claims that law and order has collapsed. In response to the latest killing, the state government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the case. Senior police officials have pledged to apprehend the culprits swiftly and promised strict measures to restore public confidence.
However, with national leaders weighing in, Khemka’s murder appears set to remain a volatile political flashpoint in an election-bound state already grappling with accusations of rising criminality.
