Patna: Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan has expressed strong concern over a series of recent incidents involving women and minors in Bihar, saying that he feels “ashamed” to be associated with the state government when such incidents take place.
Chirag’s party is a constituent of the NDA government in Bihar. In an interview on Sunday, he said the recent incidents could not be taken lightly and that the government needed to address concerns over women’s safety. His remarks come amid a series of viral videos and reported cases from districts including Jamui, Samastipur and Banka.
‘No One Feels Safe’
Speaking about the recent incidents, Chirag said he could not avoid questions about law and order because his party is part of the government.
“As of today, no one feels safe. This is a matter of concern for our government. Being an ally and a part of the government, I cannot evade this question.”
He added that he felt “ashamed” to be part of a government under which such incidents were taking place and said the issue could not be treated lightly.
‘I Am Outraged’
Asked whether he could take any major decision, Chirag said he was “outraged” by the situation and concerned about the image of Bihar at the national level.
He said a sense of fear and insecurity could have developed among girls and questioned whether girls feel comfortable stepping out of their homes in the evening.
“I cannot accept a situation where the government I am a part of fails to provide a sense of security,” Chirag said, according to the interview.
Jamui Incident Triggered Outrage
Chirag’s comments follow the September 19 incident in Jamui in which a teenage boy and girl returning from coaching were allegedly intercepted and harassed by a group of men. Videos of the incident subsequently circulated on social media.
Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and arrested three people, while further investigation continued.
The incident triggered widespread political reactions, with opposition leaders questioning the law-and-order situation in Bihar.
Similar Cases Reported From Other Districts
A separate video from Samastipur subsequently surfaced, purportedly showing a minor girl being harassed and assaulted by a group of youths. Police registered a case and arrested suspects in connection with the incident.
Another video from Mandar Hill in Banka district also went viral, prompting police to register a case after taking cognisance of the footage. Chirag described the sequence of incidents as concerning and said the government could not “run away from accountability”.
Earlier, Chirag had also said that the question was not only about action against accused persons but about why such incidents were occurring in the first place. He called for greater vigilance by the local administration and said Bihar’s daughters should not feel unsafe in the state.
Chirag’s latest remarks add to the political debate over women’s safety and law and order in Bihar. His position is particularly notable because the LJP (Ramvilas) is part of the ruling NDA alliance in the state.
