Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary says crime may occur but no apraadh exists
The chief minister's remarks during a Delhi event have triggered a political row with the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary stated on Tuesday that while there may be crime in the state, there is no 'apraadh'. Speaking at an event organised by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in Delhi, Choudhary said the concept of 'apraadh' has been eliminated and there are no criminals in Bihar.
According to reports from The Indian Express and Times Now, the remark was made during an event marking an agreement between the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Bihar government regarding river water management. Choudhary also noted that Bihar needs adequate water for industries and economic development, stating the Farakka Water Treaty restricts the state's ability to use Ganga water for more than four months of the year.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) working president and Bihar assembly Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav criticised the remarks on X. Yadav questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi intended to ruin Bihar under Choudhary's leadership and asked if bureaucrats sitting on the stage felt honoured or humiliated to work with the chief minister.
Yadav further alleged that Choudhary is an accused in seven murder cases. Choudhary, who began his career with the RJD, has maintained that he was falsely implicated in a case from the 1990s in Munger.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan, whose party is part of the NDA alliance, declined to comment on the controversy but said Choudhary has a clear vision on crime control. Paswan stated that as the Chief Minister and Home Minister, Choudhary must have facts and figures to support his claim.