Patna: Union Minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has strongly responded to remarks made by ally and fellow Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who criticised the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar over rising crime. Manjhi defended the current administration, saying it had made significant progress compared to the situation before 2005.
“Before 2005, criminals used to walk into the chief minister’s residence and settle matters after committing crimes. That no longer happens,” Manjhi told reporters in Patna. “I am happy to support a government that does not compromise with crime or criminals. Even if crimes occur, perpetrators are being jailed.”
Earlier in the day, Paswan had said he felt “ashamed” to be supporting the state government, claiming that law and order had collapsed and that criminals operated with impunity under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.
Manjhi, however, downplayed Paswan’s comments, attributing them to inexperience. “Chirag’s political career is still very young. His late father, Ram Vilas Paswan, was a seasoned politician who understood the ground realities. Chirag should follow that example and avoid repeating the kind of episode we saw in 2020,” he said, referring to Paswan’s unilateral decisions that strained ties within the NDA during the last Bihar elections.
He also criticised Paswan’s choice to make public statements rather than raise concerns within the alliance framework. “This is not the way to pressure allies over seat-sharing. Whoever has real strength in the NDA will get their due share. My party has no such demands. As a disciplined member of the NDA, I will say whatever I have to say within the alliance platform.”
