Patna: A Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader has been arrested and expelled from the party after allegedly shouting “Pakistan Zindabad” during a candle march in Lakhisarai, Bihar, organised to protest against the Pahalgam terror attack.
Police registered an FIR against the leader, Kailash Singh, and took him into custody after a video of the incident went viral on social media. Lakhisarai superintendent of police Ajay Kumar said he personally interrogated RJD leaders at the city police station and confirmed through video verification that Singh had raised the slogan. “Raising such slogans is illegal and can disturb communal harmony,” Kumar said, adding that strict action was necessary.
The incident has triggered political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching an attack on the RJD. Sharing the video on its official X handle, the BJP alleged that the RJD’s “true face” had been exposed. BJP state president Dr Dilip Jaiswal said: “Those who live in India but praise enemies of the nation for votes should be ashamed.”
Meanwhile, the RJD has sought to distance itself from the controversy. Lakhisarai district president Kalicharan Das claimed the slogan was a slip of the tongue, saying Singh accidentally shouted “Pakistan” instead of “Hindustan.” Nevertheless, Singh was expelled from the party as a disciplinary measure.
The police investigation is ongoing to determine whether others were involved in the incident.
