Patna (Bihar) [India], March 23 : Days after a video clip of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar went viral apparently showing him "gesturing" and apparently "talking" while the national anthem was being played, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Sunday expressed concern over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's health while also criticizing the state's leadership and the BJP.
He questioned the BJP's commitment to the state, alleging that they only prioritise Bihar during election seasons.
"We are worried for the health of the Chief Minister, but we are more worried about Bihar. If Bihar has such a leadership, how safe is the state? They (BJP) only worry about any state until the elections. After the elections, they forget Bihar or any other state," Khera told ANI.
Khera also questioned the safety of Bihar under its current leadership, citing the recent shooting of a hospital director in Patna as evidence of the state's deteriorating law and order situation.
"Why is Bihar in such a condition today that just today, a hospital director was shot in Patna? What vision did they (BJP) have for Bihar?... The way he insulted the national anthem had never happened before," added Khera.
This comes after the Director of the private Asia Hospital, Surbhi Raj was shot dead inside her cabin, informed Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Patna City, Atulesh Jha on Saturday. The victim was diagnosed with several gunshot injuries, after which she was referred to AIIMS, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Following this, the father of the deceased demanded a high-level inquiry into the case, alleging a conspiracy in her death.
He also emphasised the significance of the Congress party, highlighting its widespread support and legacy.
Replying to a query about the upcoming Bihar Legislative Assembly elections months after the drubbing of the party in the Delhi assembly elections, the Congress leader said, "Can anyone ever ignore the Congress in this country? It is such an old party that has at least one supporter on every street. There is a supporter in every house. How long can we ignore such a party? We will give a reply at the right time...," said the Congress leader.
Meanwhile, a poster targeting the Janata Dal-United supremo appeared outside the residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi in Patna.
The poster read, "The non-serious Chief Minister, Jan Jan Man Adhinayan Jay Hai, Nahi Kursi Kursi Kursi Kursi Jay Hai."
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday shared a video on social media platform X of Nitish Kumar at an event in which he seen to be gesturing and apparently talking while the national anthem was being played. Yadav posted on X, "At least please do not insult the national anthem, Hon'ble Chief Minister. You insult youth, students, women and elderly people every day. Sometimes they clap on Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom day and mock his martyrdom, and sometimes they clap on the national anthem!"
He alleged that the Bihar CM was "not mentally or physically stable" and called his condition a matter of great concern for the State.
"PS: Let me remind you that you are the Chief Minister of a big state. You are not mentally and physically stable even for a few seconds and your being in this position in such an unconscious state is a matter of great concern for the state. Do not insult Bihar like this again and again," he added in a post on X.