Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday for allegedly talking and gesturing during the national anthem at a public event. Calling the act "disrespectful," Yadav expressed his dismay and said he felt ashamed as a "Bihari" witnessing such an incident.
Addressing the media, he condemned the Chief Minister's actions, calling them unfortunate and unacceptable for the leader of the state. He further accused Nitish Kumar of setting a negative precedent, stating that this was the first time in Indian political history that a sitting Chief Minister had shown such disrespect toward the national anthem.
Yadav demanded that the Bihar Chief Minister apologise to the people of the country, criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies for remaining silent on the issue.
He questioned the absence of Bihar’s two Deputy Chief Ministers, alleging that the BJP only engages in theatrics rather than addressing real concerns. He called for Nitish Kumar’s retirement, asserting that he was no longer fit to hold the position.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD MLA Rabri Devi also launched an attack on Nitish Kumar, questioning his mental stability. She suggested that if he was no longer capable of governing, he should hand over power to his son. Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Misa Bharti echoed similar concerns, raising questions about both the Chief Minister’s mental and physical health.
She directly addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging them to assess whether Nitish Kumar was fit to lead the state. Bharti accused Kumar of repeatedly disrespecting women and children and asked the central leadership to evaluate the consequences of Bihar being under his administration.
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Meanwhile, RJD leader Mukesh Raushan staged a protest in Patna, demanding that Nitish Kumar issue a public apology for what he termed as an insult to the national anthem.
He called for the Chief Minister’s immediate removal and urged the imposition of President’s Rule in Bihar. Raushan also suggested that a case of treason should be filed against Kumar, citing his alleged actions as a grave offense.
Tejashwi Yadav further escalated the controversy by sharing a video of the incident, in which Nitish Kumar was seen talking and making gestures while the national anthem was being played. In the video, Kumar appeared to tap an official on the shoulder, seemingly engaging him in conversation.
He was also seen smiling and folding his hands in a namaskar toward someone in the audience while the anthem continued. The footage sparked widespread criticism from opposition leaders and members of the public alike.
The controversy comes at a politically crucial time, with Bihar set to hold Assembly elections in October this year. The Election Commission of India has yet to announce the official poll dates, but the incident has already intensified the political battle in the state.
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