Bihar minister accused of assaulting YouTuber as Tejashwi Yadav steps in to ensure FIR

PATNA: A senior minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet has been accused of assaulting a YouTuber during his visit to his assembly constituency in Darbhanga district, leading to political uproar and intervention by RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. The incident occurred on Sunday when Jibesh Kumar, the urban development and housing minister, toured his Jale constituency. A local YouTuber, identified as Dilip Kumar Sahani, confronted the minister to ask about the poor condition of a road in the area. According to Sahanis complaint filed at Singhwara police station, the ministers associates hurled abuses, assaulted him, and tried to drag him inside their vehicle. He also alleged that the minister threatened him with dire consequences, and his mobile phone and camera were snatched and damaged. The FIR was lodged after Tejashwi Yadav personally visited the police station and ensured the complaint was registered. See how a BJP minister behaves with a YouTuber or journalist in a state run by a double engine government, Tejashwi told reporters outside the police station. He alleged that the situation had worsened to the extent that the Leader of Opposition himself had to intervene to register an FIR against a minister. Tejashwi also threatened to launch road blockades if action was not taken against the accused. Minister Jibesh Kumar, however, denied the allegations, saying he had no knowledge of the incident. I will comment only after receiving a report from the SDPO who visited the village to ascertain the truth, he said. His security guard claimed that the ministers vehicle was pelted with stones and that there was an attempt to disrupt the ministers official duty. Police said complaints had been received from both sides and an investigation was underway. Subham Kumar Suman, SDPO, visited the village to defuse tension. Local residents told the police that the minister was visiting a bereaved family to offer condolences when the YouTuber confronted him, prompting a brief altercation before the minister left the spot.

Poll-bound Bihar to get several projects across sectors during PM Modis visit on September 15

NEW DELHI: Poll-bound Bihar is set to receive a host of new schemes and infrastructure development projects, including the National Makhana Board, on September 15, the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state to lay the foundation stone for these schemes and inaugurate many of them. The National Makhana Board is being established to promote production and technological advancement, strengthen post-harvest management, encourage value addition and processing, and facilitate marketing, export, and brand development in Makhana, thereby benefiting cultivators. As Bihar officially accounts for approximately 90% of the countrys total Makhana production, the establishment of the board is expected to significantly benefit cultivators in districts such as Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Saharsa, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Kishanganj, and Araria. These areas serve as the main hubs for Makhana production due to favourable climatic conditions and fertile soil. In addition to the Makhana Board, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Interim Terminal Building at the New Civil Enclave of Purnea Airport, aimed at enhancing passenger handling capacity in the region. Purnea is one of the key cities in Bihars Seemanchal area. He will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate multiple development projects worth approximately Rs 36,000 crore in Purnea, including the foundation stone for a 3x800 MW thermal power project at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur. According to an official statement from the PMO, this will be Bihars largest private sector investment, valued at Rs 25,000 crore. The project, designed on ultra-super critical low-emission technology, will provide dedicated power and strengthen Bihars energy security. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for Phase 1 of the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State River Link Project, worth over Rs 2,680 crore. This initiative focuses on upgrading the canal through desilting, reconstruction of damaged structures, and renovation of the settling basin, while enhancing its discharge capacity from 15,000 to 20,000 cusecs. The project aims to benefit multiple districts in northeastern Bihar through improved irrigation, flood control, and agricultural resilience. In terms of rail connectivity and infrastructure, Bihar is also set to benefit from several major initiatives. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the Rail Line between Bikramshila and Katareah, valued at over Rs 2,170 crore, providing a direct rail link across the River Ganga. He will also inaugurate the new Rail Line between Araria and Galgalia (Thakurganj), worth over Rs 4,410 crore. Additionally, he will flag off a train on the ArariaGalgalia section, establishing direct rail connectivity between Araria and Kishanganj districts, significantly improving accessibility across northeastern Bihar. The Prime Minister will also launch the Vande Bharat Express Train between Jogbani and Danapur, directly benefiting districts such as Araria, Purnea, Madhepura, Saharsa, Khagaria, Begusarai, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali, and Patna. Furthermore, he will flag off the Amrit Bharat Express Trains between Saharsa and Chheharta (Amritsar), and between Jogbani and Erode. In Purnea, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Sex-Sorted Semen Facility, a state-of-the-art semen station under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. Capable of producing 5 lakh sex-sorted semen doses annually, it is the first of its kind in Eastern and Northeastern India. The facility employs indigenously developed technology launched in October 2024, aligning with the vision of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. By enabling higher chances of female calf births, the technology is expected to help small and marginal farmers, as well as landless labourers, secure more replacement heifers, reduce economic stress, and raise incomes through improved dairy productivity. As part of his visit, Prime Minister Modi will also participate in Griha Pravesh ceremonies for 35,000 rural beneficiaries under PMAY (R) and 5,920 urban beneficiaries under PMAY (U), and will personally hand over keys to some of them. In addition, he will distribute Community Investment Funds worth around Rs 500 crore to Cluster Level Federations under the DAY-NRLM scheme, handing over cheques to several CLF Presidents.

How Darbhangas Jha Brothers Dragged Seema Haiders Name Into Rs 650 Crore ITC Scam

ED said that CAs Ashutosh and Vipin Jha of Darbhanga floated shell firms, faked transactions, and claimed bogus tax credits, forming part of a Rs 650 crore fraud network

'Peace will soon return to trouble-torn Nepal,' says Union Minister Piyush Goyal

PATNA: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday expressed confidence that peace would return to Nepal soon. Talking to media persons in Patna, Goyal said that the Indian government is keeping a close watch on the turmoil in the neighbouring country following the violent Gen-G protests. He assured that there is no need to worry, citing Indias track record of evacuating citizens of the country even from war zones. Our foreign ministry is monitoring the situation closely. I spoke to our ambassador last night and a helpline has been set up for anyone in need, he added. The union minister also took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav for the latters stubbornness to tender an apology over objectionable remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother in Bihars Darbhanga district. Public movement allowed for few hours amid extended prohibitory orders in violence-hit Nepal He dismissed speculation around Tejashwis possible chief ministerial candidacy, saying, Nitish Kumar remains unchallenged, and the NDA government will be formed again in Bihar after the assembly elections. Goyal also announced two major road projects for Biharthe Mokama-Munger four-lane corridor and the Bhagalpur-Dumka routewith a combined cost of Rs 4,447 crore. He said the projects reflected Bihars rapid progress under the double engine government. He also insisted that people of Bihar would not like to return to what he described as Jungle raj. People of Bihar are very intelligent. They know that Bihar would progress under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Nitish, he said in response to a media query. Meanwhile, Union BJP president J P Nadda is expected to reach Patna to hold talks with senior party leaders and members of the partys core committee on September 13. Nadda will discuss the election strategy at the proposed meeting. The assembly elections in the State are due in October-November. Nepal president says seeking solution to crisis 'as soon as possible' Three dead in clashes in Nepal prison, over 15,000 inmates escape from different jails amid unrest

20,000 RSS volunteers working at grassroots in Bihar to boost NDA's chances in assembly polls

NEW DELHI: With Bihar set for a keenly fought battle at the polls following the Opposition's launch of the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', the RSS the ideological mentor of the BJP has reportedly intensified its groundwork in the state to smoothen the pitch for the BJP-led NDA. Over 20,000 RSS volunteers are discreetly advancing the organisations mission at the grassroots level by promoting the Sanghs nationalist ideology and highlighting how the government's actions are aligned with the Sanghs vision of the national interest. With Bihar poised for a high-stakes triangular contest in a majority of assembly constituencies after the entry of political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's newly formed Jan Suraj Party, the role of the Sangh on the ground has become more crucial. In an emerging situation where the Opposition-led by the RJD with the Congress has started creating a fake narrative on SIR and other issues against the government, our duty as citizens is also to dispel these narratives on the ground. The Sangh is dedicated to the nation and the people as the world's largest social organisation, remarked a Sangh volunteer, neither denying the presence of Sangh volunteers on the ground nor admitting it on record. Although the Sangh does not directly engage in political campaigning, its volunteers, who are called Swayamsevaks, continue to actively promote its nationalist and Hindutva ideologies to help create a favourable ground for the saffron party in the electoral arena. As part of its nationwide strategy to mark its centenary celebrations beginning this Vijayadashami which falls on October 2 this year the Sangh is planning outreach efforts across the country, including in the remote areas of Bihar. A series of public interactions have been planned to deepen the Sanghs connection with the masses. Topics such as the success of Operation Sindoor, the SIR whether it is needed in the country or not and other issues designed to bring about social change in the broader interest of the public, will be actively addressed during the centenary year. Sources indicated that Sangh volunteers are already active on the ground in many districts across Bihar, including Siwan, Buxar, Ara, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Rohtas, West Champaran, Vaishali, and others. With the aim of educating and making people aware of national issues and interests, the Sanghs volunteers are reportedly well ahead in their ground-level work in the run-up to the assembly elections. The RSS has also deployed volunteers from other states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and others to assist in groundwork ahead of its centenary functions, which coincide with the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for November this year. Even in Bihars Seemanchal region, which has a significant Muslim population, the Sangh has an organised presence, with volunteers working in a disciplined manner to inspire people towards nationalist ideologies. The entire state of Bihar has been divided into four zones, each managed by experienced Sangh volunteers working in coordination with volunteers from other RSS-inspired social organisations. The Sanghs volunteers, affiliated with several RSS-inspired organisations such as the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Sanskar Bharti, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, and the Rashtriya Shaikshanik Mahasangh are also on the ground ahead of the elections, in the same coordinated manner they had adopted in Haryana and Maharashtra prior to the assembly polls there. A senior source closely associated with the Sangh said the centenary-related activities in Bihar have already commenced, but they are expected to gain momentum after 22 September the conclusion of the inauspicious Pitra-Paksha period, which begins on September 7. Numerous Hindu Sammelans are scheduled to be held in Bihars interior regions as part of the centenary events, coinciding with the growing election fervour in the state.

NDA protests abuse against PM, RJD calls it a flop show

PATNA: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday staged protests across Bihar against the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother during the Oppositions Voter Adhikar Yatra, even as RJD chief Lalu Prasad launched a counter, asking the PM whether he ordered BJP members to insult women during the agitation. While the BJP and its allies claimed that the bandh was successful, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said it was a flop and accused BJP workers of indulging in hooliganism. RJD, as well as Congress, posted several videos showing how bandh protagonists allegedly physically assaulted common people during the agitation. The protests are in response to a man identified as Rizvi alias Raja allegedly hurling abuses at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother, the late Heeraben, from the stage in Darbhanga during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi`s Yatra. During the five-hour shutdown, essential services, including emergency facilities and rail operations, remained unaffected. The BJP Mahila Morcha led the protest. Senior BJP leaders, including Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal, MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dharmshila Gupta, along with state ministers and MLAs, staged sit-ins. Similar protests were organised in districts such as Nawada, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, and Darbhanga. However, RJD chief Lalu Prasad questioned the PM, saying, Did Prime Minister Modi order BJP members to insult the mothers, sisters, and daughters of Bihar and Biharis today? Should Gujaratis take Biharis so lightly? This is Bihar. Are BJP goons and ruffians abusing respected teachers, women walking on the streets, students, pregnant women, the elderly, and journalists, engaging in physical altercations and mistreating them? Is this appropriate? Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor claimed that the bandh did not garner peoples support and stated that they would be rid of both Lalu (RJD) and Nitish (JD(U)) after the assembly elections.

NDA constituents' women wings call 5-hour Bihar bandh on September 4 to protest 'abuses' against PM Modi

The women's wings of NDA allies in Bihar have announced a five-hour bandh on September 4, from 7 am to noon. This is to protest against the alleged abusive language used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his mother during the Congress 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga.

NDA calls for five-hour Bihar bandh on Sept 4 to protest abuses hurled at PM, his late mother

Patna: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) party has given a call for a five-hour bandh in Bihar on September 4 to protest against the abusive remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben, during the Voter Adhikar Yatra launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Darbhanga. Announcing the bandh call, Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal said that the bandh call will be effective from 7 am to 12 noon on September 4 (Thursday). However, railways and emergency services have been exempted from the ambit of the bandh, he told the media. Jaiswal, who was watching PM Modi on TV in the party office, literally broke down. Slamming the Congress-RJD, BJP state president asked what bigger sin could be than abusing the PM's mother, who is no more and has nothing to do with politics. Rahul Gandhi has brought shame to the land of Bihar by allowing a man to hurl abuses on PM and his late mother from the stage meant for Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga last week, Jaiswal said, adding that the party would observe bandh as a mark of protest. Lauding the efforts of PM Modi for Bihars development, Jaiswal said that on Tuesday he (PM) provided financial assistance to mothers and daughters of the state. Around 20 mothers and sisters were listening to PM Modi when he disbursed financial aid to the state, he said. He added that a decision to observe bandh on September 4 was taken after a meeting with leaders of women cells of all five constituents of NDA. The women cells of NDA allies were deeply hurt by the behaviour of Congress-RJD leaders. JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha said that the way PM Modi and his late mother was abused from a public platform was against democratic norms. One may differ on political ideologies, but it does mean that family should be dragged into controversy, he said. Kushwaha, who was present at the press conference, expressed surprise over the silence of Congress-RJD senior leaders over the issue. So far no reactions have come the top leaders of Congress-RJD neither they have apologised for the incident, he asserted. Raju Tiwari, state president of LJP(RV), said that humiliating women had been the tradition of Congress-RJD, and the Darbhanga incident was just a reflection of it. Madan Choudhary of RLM was also present at the press conference. JD(U) women's cell president Bharti Mehta said what is more shocking that abuses were hurled on PMs late mother from the land of Mithilanchal, which has always given preferences to women in every sphere of life. This is more humiliating, and it will not be tolerated, she remarked. On the other hand, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar said that BJP was trying to divert the peoples attention by playing the emotional card before the assembly election. They did similar thing in Karnataka. Now they are trying to repeat in Bihar, he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

I may forgive RJD-Cong, but people of Bihar wont pardon them: PM Modi

In his first reaction to the controversy surrounding the incident in Darbhanga, PM Modi took a dig at Opposition parties, stating that expletives against his mother are nothing for those who insult Mother India and called for such acts to be punished

I May Forgive RJD-Cong But People Of Bihar Wont Pardon Them For Insulting My Mother: PM

PATNA, Sep 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he was deeply pained by the hurling of abuses at his mother during Congress recently concluded Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, and asserted that although he may forgive RJD and the grand old party but people of the eastern state would never pardon them. In the PMs first reaction to the controversy over hurling of abuses at his deceased mother during the yatra in Darbhanga recently, he took a dig [] The post I May Forgive RJD-Cong But People Of Bihar Wont Pardon Them For Insulting My Mother: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

'Touched by gesture': Rahul Gandhi gifts new bike to Darbhanga youth; replaces vehicle lost during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'

Following the loss of his motorcycle during Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra,' Shubham Saurabh from Darbhanga received a replacement from the Congress leader. Saurabh had lent his bike to security personnel during a rally, only to find it misplaced afterward. Touched by Gandhi's gesture, Saurabh expressed his gratitude for the new motorcycle, a model identical to the one he lost.

Rahul presents new motorcycle to man who lost two-wheeler

Patna: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi presented a man from Bihars Darbhanga district with a new motorcycle after his two-wheeler was lost during the Voter Adhikar Yatra. The party shared on its X handle a video of Shubham Saurabh, who narrated his story, proudly flaunting the keys to his motorcycle, handed over by the Leader of Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Rahul Gandhi gifts new motorcycle to Bihar youth after his bike went missing during rally

In Darbhanga, Shubham Saurabh's motorcycle went missing during a Congress event. Rahul Gandhi learned about this incident. Gandhi gifted Saurabh a brand new motorcycle in Patna. The motorcycle was the same model as the lost one. Saurabh expressed his happiness and gratitude. He was touched by Gandhi's thoughtful gesture. The event took place on September 1st.

PM makes first attack on Congress, RJD after his mother was 'abused' in Bihar

NEW DELHI: In a strong response and attack on the Opposition following the incident where his late mother was allegedly abused by a man from the stage set up for the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' organised by the RJD and Congress in Bihar, Prime Minister Modi became visibly emotional as he criticised both parties for the act. Speaking to the women of poll-bound Bihar via video conferencing during the launch of a new cooperative, 'Bihar Rajya Jeevika Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited', the Prime Minister described the abuses directed at his deceased mother as an insult to all mothers, sisters and daughters of the country, especially Bihar. He accused the RJD-Congress alliance of dragging his late mother into politics, and said such actions may not be forgiven by the women of Bihar. I may forgive RJD-Cong, but people of Bihar will never pardon them for insulting my mother. Hurling abuses at my mother is nothing for those who insult 'Mother India'; such people must be punished, the Prime Minister asserted. He alleged that the RJD seeks revenge against women, as its previous government in Bihar was ousted because women voted against it. BJP slams Rahul Gandhis Bihar yatra over alleged abuses against PM Modis mother Turning the incident into a broader campaign against the Opposition among women, PM Modi urged, You should seek answers from RJD and Congress. There should be only one voice from every street and neighbourhood abuses of mother will not be tolerated. He further described the incident as an attack on womens dignity and said, Attack on honour, will not be tolerated. RJDs atrocities will not be tolerated. Congresss attack will not be tolerated. Insult to mothers, will not be tolerated. The Prime Minister alleged, The people who hurl abuses at mothers have a mindset that women are weak. Escalating his criticism of the Congress-RJD combine, he said, My mother had nothing to do with politics, so why was she abused by RJD-Congress? These abuses are an insult to entire mothers, sisters and daughters. Mother is my world. My mother was abused from dais of RJD-Congress, I never imagined it would happen; it was an insult to mothers and daughters of Bihar, he said in a tone surcharged with emotion. A man identified as Rizvi alias Raja of Bhopura village in Darbhanga district of Bihar was arrested by the police after a video clip of him hurling abuses at the prime minister went viral on social media. Taking a direct attack on the RJD, Bihars main Opposition party, PM Modi claimed the party never wanted women to progress. It never want to let women progress and that is why RJD always opposed even women reservation, he alleged, just a day after the RJD-Congress and other allied parties held the Voters Adhikar Rally in Patna. Criticising the Congress, he said, The Congress has never tolerated any backward or extremely backward person progresses ahead. The Congress thinks that it is the right of the big names to abuse the workers hence they start abusing people, the Prime Minister said.

Rahul Gandhi shown black flags in Bihar's Darbhanga, here's what he did - watch viral video

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, was shown black flags by workers from the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar's Darbhanga.

Cong leaders not apologising for abuses against PM, instead politicising matter, claims Himanta

GUWAHATI, Aug 30: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed that the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, instead of apologising for the alleged abuses against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, are trying to politicise the matter. BJP leaders have been attacking the Congress after a purported video showed an unidentified person using a Hindi expletive against Modi from a dais raised during the yatra in Darbhanga town, from where Rahul Gandhi, [] The post Cong leaders not apologising for abuses against PM, instead politicising matter, claims Himanta appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav joins 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar

SARAN: Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday joined the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Saran district. In a post on X, senior Congress leader K C Venugopal said Yadav is a steadfast ally in the party's fight against the BJP's alleged attempt to destroy the country's democracy. This morning, former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav Jee joined the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Saran. Welcomed him to this historic movement to protect democracy. He has been a steadfast ally in our fight against the BJP's destruction of our democracy, and a strong voice for the poor and underprivileged in UP and across the country, Venugopal said on the social media platform. , ! pic.twitter.com/cgi7XV8o7c K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 30, 2025 He also shared photographs of Yadav meeting Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Rohini Acharya, the daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, was also present there. Acharya had contested from Saran in the Lok Sabha polls last year, and failed to win the seat. Gandhi launched the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Sasaram in Rohtas district on August 17 to protest against the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The yatra, supported by all INDIA bloc constituents, will culminate in Patna on September 1. The yatra has so far covered Gayaji, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Purnea, West Champaran, Gopalganj, East Champaran, and Siwan districts. It will pass through Bhojpur and Patna. 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar

Clashes in Patna over derogatory remarks on Modi

PATNA: Violence erupted during a protest march near the Congress office at Sadaquat Ashram in Patna on Friday after BJP and Congress workers clashed. The march was being organised over the use of abusive language against PM Narendra Modi and his late mother by a man during Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Voter Adhikar Yatra rally in Darbhanga on Wednesday. Situation spiralled out of control after BJP workers forced their entry into the Sadaqat Ashram by opening the main gate. Congress workers retaliated, resulting in a free-for-all battle. Several people were injured and some vehicles parked inside the Congress office were damaged. Bihar minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Nabin, who participated in the protest, claimed that the stir was peaceful, adding that those inside the Congress office had started hurling stones. We are not scared of bricks or guns. We will take revenge for the insult to our mother, he warned.

Bihar polls: BJP will be driven out of the state, says SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav

PATNA: Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Prasad Yadav on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be removed from power in Bihar in the upcoming assembly elections. Speaking to the media upon his arrival at Patna airport, Akhilesh said he was in Bihar to participate in the ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra, a campaign aimed at safeguarding citizens' voting rights. He expressed delight at the strong public response the Yatra has received. Both Rahul Gandhi (Congress) and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD) have exposed discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar. I am here to lend my support, he said. When asked about the political scenario in Bihar, Akhilesh remarked, We drove the BJP out of Awadh. Now, it will be driven out of Magadh (Bihar). He sharply criticised the Election Commission, accusing it of acting like a Jugaad Aayog for the BJP government. The people of Bihar will conduct their own SIR of the Election Commission, he said, alleging that the BJP was attempting to strip citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed voting rights. Bihar police arrest man accused of hurling abusive language against PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' We will defend the Constitution at all costs. The Voter Adhikar Yatra is a movement to protect the fundamental right to vote. No one can dare take this away, he asserted, adding that the public would deliver a strong message to the BJP in the elections. Akhilesh also highlighted the issue of migration from Bihar, blaming lack of local employment opportunities. He praised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for generating jobs during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister in the Grand Alliance government and expressed hope that Tejashwi would help curb migration if given another opportunity. Lashing out at the BJP, Akhilesh described it as a party that exploits its allies only to discard them once its goals are met. When asked about abusive language allegedly used against the Prime Minister during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga, Akhilesh shifted the focus to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Have you heard Yogi Adityanath? What kind of language does he use? he responded. Bihar CM Nitish condemns 'abuses' hurled at PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga

BJP will be voted out of Bihar like it was in Awadh, says SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav

PATNA: Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Prasad Yadav on Friday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be removed from power in Bihar in the upcoming assembly elections. Speaking to the media upon his arrival at Patna airport, Akhilesh said he was in Bihar to participate in the ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra, a campaign aimed at safeguarding citizens' voting rights. He expressed delight at the strong public response the Yatra has received. Both Rahul Gandhi (Congress) and Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD) have exposed discrepancies in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission (EC) in Bihar. I am here to lend my support, he said. When asked about the political scenario in Bihar, Akhilesh remarked, We drove the BJP out of Awadh. Now, it will be driven out of Magadh (Bihar). He sharply criticised the Election Commission, accusing it of acting like a Jugaad Aayog for the BJP government. The people of Bihar will conduct their own SIR of the Election Commission, he said, alleging that the BJP was attempting to strip citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed voting rights. Bihar police arrest man accused of hurling abusive language against PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' We will defend the Constitution at all costs. The Voter Adhikar Yatra is a movement to protect the fundamental right to vote. No one can dare take this away, he asserted, adding that the public would deliver a strong message to the BJP in the elections. Akhilesh also highlighted the issue of migration from Bihar, blaming lack of local employment opportunities. He praised RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for generating jobs during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister in the Grand Alliance government and expressed hope that Tejashwi would help curb migration if given another opportunity. Lashing out at the BJP, Akhilesh described it as a party that exploits its allies only to discard them once its goals are met. When asked about abusive language allegedly used against the Prime Minister during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga, Akhilesh shifted the focus to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Have you heard Yogi Adityanath? What kind of language does he use? he responded. Bihar CM Nitish condemns 'abuses' hurled at PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga

Owaisi disapproves use of abusive language against PM Modi

Hyderabad: AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday disapproved of the abusive language allegedly used against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother. Reacting to a viral video of the abusive language used by a man during the INDIA blocs Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihars Darbhanga, the Hyderabad MP termed it inappropriate and called for Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

EC issues 3 lakh notices over Voter ID discrepancies in Bihar; foreign nationals among those flagged

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued nearly 3 lakh notices to electors in Bihar after Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) found discrepancies in their voter identification documents during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the states electoral rolls, sources said on Friday. According to officials, the discrepancies were discovered during document verification, and in several instances, nationals from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Afghanistan, were allegedly found in possession of Indian voter identity cards. These irregularities surfaced during document checks conducted by EROs, with formal notices issued following detailed field inquiries, a senior official stated. Each elector flagged in the process has been asked to appear before authorities within seven days to clarify or rectify their records. Bihar CM Nitish condemns 'abuses' hurled at PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga A comprehensive verification drive is scheduled to take place from 1 to 30 August, and individuals found ineligible will have their names removed from the final voter list, which is set to be published on 30 September. During house-to-house visits by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), many individuals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar were found to have procured multiple Indian documents, including Aadhaar, ration cards, and domicile certificates, the source added. The highest number of questionable cases have been reported from border and adjoining districts such as East Champaran, West Champaran, Madhubani, Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Araria, and Supaul. As of Thursday, the ECI had received a total of 2,11,650 applications from individuals and political parties seeking inclusion or deletion of names from the draft rolls. Among political parties, CPI (ML) Liberation submitted 8 applications, while the main opposition party RJD submitted 9. 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar Out of the total applications, 24,991 have already been disposed of by the EROs. However, the ECI has not released specific figures on how many were related to inclusions or deletions. The draft electoral roll was published on 1 August, following the commencement of the SIR process on 24 June. According to the poll panel, documents of 99.11% of Bihars 7.24 crore electors have already been verified, with 98.2% submitting the required documentation between 24 June and 24 August.

PM Modi 'abused': Rahul's veiled dig amid Congress, BJP clash; grand old party makes agent claim

A political controversy erupts. It involves Congress and BJP. Allegations of abuse target Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The incident occurred during a rally in Darbhanga. Amit Shah demands an apology from Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi speaks of truth prevailing. Congress claims BJP agents made the remarks. Clashes between party workers break out in Patna. Nitish Kumar condemns the language used.

Man arrested for using abusive language against PM during Voter Adhikar Yatra

Darbhanga: The Bihar Police on Friday arrested the person who allegedly used abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Voter Adhikar Yatra in the state, officials said. The accused, identified as Mohammad Rizvi alias Raza (20), was arrested from Singhwara locality of Darbhanga town. A case was registered against him Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Man arrested for abusing PM Modi in Darbhanga

A person identified as Rizvi alias Raja was arrested today for allegedly abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the dais of Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga on Wednesday.

BJP, Congress Workers Clash, Pelt Stones In Bihar Over Derogatory Remarks Against PM Modi

Clashes broke out between BJP and Congress workers in Patna after derogatory remarks were made against PM Modi and his late mother during Rahul Gandhis rally in Darbhanga.

Bihar police arrest man accused of hurling abusive language against PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'

PATNA: Darbhanga police in Bihar arrested a man on the charges of hurling abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a political rally organised by Congress-RJD workers in Darbhanga district recently, police said on Friday. The arrested man has been identified as Rizvi alias Raja of Bhopura village in Darbhanga district was taken into custody late on Thursday, after a video clip of the event went viral on Wednesday. The incident took place at an event organised as part of ongoing Voter Adhikar Yatra launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Bithauli Chowk in the district. Senior Superintendent of police (SSP), Darbhanga, Jagunath Reddy confirmed the arrest of Rizvi, who has been accused of using abusive language against PM and his late mother. Speaking to presspersons, the SSP said that the action against Rizvi was initiated after a complaint was filed at Simri police station in Darbhanga district. Instructions were given to the station house officer (SHO) of Simri police station to arrest the accused at the earliest, he said. On the basis of that complaint, an FIR was registered at Simri police station in Darbhanga district. The arrested accused Raja is stated to be a native . Further interrogation is underway, the SSP said. Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) August 29, 2025 Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday (August 29, 2025) condemned the alleged abuses hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Rahul Gandhis Voter Adhikar Yatra in the state. Nitish commented on X, The use of indecent language against the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and his late mother from the Congress and RJD platforms during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga is extremely undignified, and I condemn it, The organiser of the event also apologised for the incident.

'Party had nothing to do with it': Congress leader Sachin Pilot condemns use of indecent language against PM Modi

PATNA : Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Friday condemned the use of abusive language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during a political rally in Bihars Darbhanga, held as part of the Oppositions Voter Adhikar Yatra. Talking to ANI , Pilot clarified that the Congress party had no involvement in the incident, stating, Our yatra had already moved forward from that location. The Congress has always upheld civility in politics. We strongly denounce such remarks, there is no place for them in a democracy. Ours is Mahatma Gandhis party, and we have never endorsed such statements, nor will we ever. The remarks against PM Modi captured in an alleged video, have triggered a political storm, with BJP and NDA leaders targeting both Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), co-organizers of the yatra. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta called the comments shameful, saying, This reflects poor upbringing and utter disrespect for motherhood, be it Mother Earth, Mother India, or ones own mother. Such behaviour is unacceptable on the land of Sita Maa. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also weighed in, calling the language used extremely unbecoming, and condemned it via a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Darbhanga police have arrested the individual allegedly responsible for the offensive remarks, according to Senior Superintendent of Police, Darbhanga. (With inputs from ANI)

Modi's teaspoon outweighs Rahul Gandhi's silver spoon: UP Deputy CM

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya slammed the Gandhi family on Friday, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's teaspoon outweighs their silver spoon. Maurya's remarks came in response to a viral video, in which some people were allegedly seen making offensive remarks against the Prime Minister's mother during Rahul Gandhi's Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. In a post in Hindi on microblogging site X, Maurya said, The successful Prime Minister Narendra Modi believes in drawing a bigger line instead of erasing the small line. This is what irritates Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and Rahul Gandhi. In the same post, he said, That is why this trio, full of hatred, disgust and arrogance, mocks Modi by calling him the 'merchant of death', 'lowly' and 'vote thief'. In fact, by saying so, they mock the public. Maurya, a prominent backward class leader and former state BJP president, said, The Gandhi family has no idea that people have elected Modi , who belongs to the country's largest backward class -- as the Prime Minister of this country thrice after seeing his hard work. He continued, He (Modi) was not born with a silver spoon like Rahul Gandhi. But his teaspoon outweighs Rahul's silver spoon. That is why this trio has given a contract of abusing Modi to their extremely small entourage. The BJP had on Thursday held Rahul Gandhi responsible for the alleged abusive language against Modi's mother during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, and said people of the state will give a befitting reply to the Congress for its politics of abuses. The viral video clip is reportedly from Darbhanga district, from where Rahul Gandhi, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav kickstarted the yatra and set off to Muzaffarpur on a motorcycle. 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar

Man arrested for 'abusive' remarks against PM Modi, his late mother in Bihar

A man has been arrested on charges of hurling abuses against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother during the Mahagathbandhan's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Darbhanga district. The accused has been identified as Rafiq alias Raja, a resident of Bhopura village under the jurisdiction of Sihwada Police Station. An FIR was registered against him at the Simri police station.

Bihar CM Nitish condemns 'abuses' hurled at PM Modi during 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Darbhanga

PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday condemned the alleged abuses hurled at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Rahul Gandhi's 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in the state. The use of indecent language against PM Narendra Modi Ji and his late mother from the Congress and RJD platforms during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga is extremely unbecoming, and I condemn it, wrote the CM in a post on X on Friday. The BJP on Thursday asserted the Congress-led INDIA bloc will be punished by the people in the upcoming assembly polls, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed the incident as a stain on the country's democracy. Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) August 29, 2025 'PM Modi is scared,' claims Rahul Gandhi during Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar Shah, BJP president J P Nadda and party spokesperson Sambit Patra flayed Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, a day after a purported video showed an unidentified person using a Hindi expletive against Modi from a dais raised during the yatra in Darbhanga town, from where Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had left for Muzaffarpur on motorcycles on Wednesday. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. A delegation of Bihar BJP also lodged a complaint at the Kotwali police station in Patna on Thursday in connection with the incident. Meanwhile, protest demonstrations were also staged in Darbhanga as well in Patna on Thursday, even as the state women's commission shot off a letter to the administration, seeking suo motu action against the culprits. Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi Effigies of Gandhi and Yadav were burnt by BJP workers in Darbhanga, who joined a procession organised by two-term local MP Gopaljee Thakur. A Congress leader in Darbhanga, who admitted that the viral video was of a podium that he had erected on the outskirts of the north Bihar town, offered an apology, but maintained that the expletives had been hurled in his absence. The video appears to have been shot after I left the spot, following Rahul Gandhi, who passed through. I have not yet watched the clip.Still, I offer my apologies if anything of the sort has happened, said Mohd Naushad, who is a worker of the Youth Congress and is said to be eyeing the party ticket from the Jale assembly seat. Thakur also submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Kaushal Kumar, seeking the arrest of Naushad and his associates.

BJP slams Rahul Gandhis Bihar yatra over alleged abuses against PM Modis mother

NEW DELHI/PATNA: The BJP on Thursday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi-led 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar had crossed all limits of insult, hate and tastelessness, claiming that abuses were directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother during the campaign. The party, on its official X handle, refrained from posting the video of the incident, but clips shared online by a few accounts showed some unidentified people using a Hindi abuse for Modi from a dais during the Yatra. The video, which has gone viral, is purportedly of Darbhanga district from where the Yatra had taken off on Wednesday morning, when Gandhi, his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav left for Muzaffarpur on motorcycles. PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Several podiums had been erected along the route for local party workers who tried to mobilise public sentiments in favour of the INDIA bloc ahead of assembly elections due later this year. The BJP said, Tejashwi (Yadav) and Rahul are behind the use of such filthy language that it cannot be repeated from a public platform... Such lowliness was never seen before in politics. This Yatra has crossed all limits of insult, hate and tastelessness. They have used a very vulgar language against the prime minister's late mother, it said. The ruling party claimed that the choice of such abusive words for his mother shows the state of the opposition's desperation, as Gandhi and Yadav had earlier invited leaders like M K Stalin and Revanth Reddy, chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Telangana, respectively, who are accused of insulting people of Bihar. People of Bihar will not forgive Gandhi and Yadav, the main campaigners for the RJD, for such a mistake, even if they apologise a thousand times, the BJP said, calling the incident extremely shameful. BJP's Darbhanga district chief Aditya Narayan Jha 'Manna' said, We are not going to take this insult lying down. We have burnt effigies of Rahul and Tejashwi and are going to lodge a police complaint, seeking a probe and action against those involved in hurling expletives. A senior Congress leader requesting anonymity said, We cannot say who the people are whose voice is there in the video. Workers of at least half-a-dozen parties are taking part in the yatra. The INDIA bloc, which is known in Bihar as Mahagathbandhan or grand alliance, includes three Left parties and former state minister Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insan Party.

Rahul Gandhi mocks Modi over Trumps claim

Darbhanga/Muzaffarpur/Sitamarhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought to berate Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trumps claim that India had agreed to halt military conflict with Pakistan within five hours of an ultimatum from America. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, whose fortnight-long Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar has three Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Modi's image 'product of his friends with deep pockets,' alleges Rahul Gandhi at Bihar rally; calls PM 'hollow'

DARBHANGA/ MUZAFFARPUR/ SITAMARHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sought to berate Prime Minister Narendra Modi over US President Donald Trump's claim that India had agreed to halt military conflict with Pakistan within five hours of an ultimatum from America. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, whose fortnight-long 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar has three more days to go, covered north Bihar districts of Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi, all strongholds of the BJP-led NDA. Addressing a rally in Sitamarhi's Runni Saidpur late in the evening, before calling it a day, Gandhi said, What type of Prime Minister do we have? He brags of having a 56-inch chest. But US President Donald Trump says that while Operation Sindoor was on, he called up Modi and told him to stop the military conflict within 24 hours. And Modi, like a deflated tyre (hawa nikal gayi), obeyed the command within five hours. The former Congress president alleged that it only proves Modi is a coward. His (Modi's) image is a product of his friends with deep pockets. He also receives some help from the media, which spends 10 days telecasting the wedding of a wealthy man's son, but cannot spare 15 minutes for our Yatra in which lakhs of people are turning up daily, Gandhi said. The Congress leader claimed that when he challenged Modi in Parliament recently to call the bluff of Trump, he could not muster the courage to utter a word. I have met him a number of times. He seems hollow. A far cry from real heroes like Mahatma Gandhi who never boasted of a 56-inch chest, the Congress leader said. Just imagine the pressure Mahatma Gandhi must have faced from the British Empire which was then a superpower. They placed him in jails, kept him in solitary confinement. But he stuck to his principles, he said. The Congress leader also alleged that the 'Gujarat model' which had helped the rise of Modi, its then chief minister, on the national stage, was all about vote chori (theft of votes). It is the model (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah must have had in his mind when he had predicted that the BJP would rule the country for 30-40 years. Politicians like us know it well that public mood is fickle and we cannot be sure of what is going to happen tomorrow, claimed Gandhi. He said the Congress had begun to suspect something was amiss when it lost the assembly polls in Maharashtra, just a month after the Lok Sabha elections in which the alliance, of which the party was a part, had swept the western state. We polled as many votes in the Maharashtra assembly polls as we had in the Lok Sabha elections. But the BJP-led coalition saw a steep rise in its vote tally, which was commensurate with the number of new voters added to the electoral rolls within a span of a few months. Our request for access to CCTV footage of the elections was turned down by the Election Commission, said Gandhi. Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi The EC seems to be gratified that the Modi government had passed a law in Parliament a few years ago providing legal immunity to Election Commissioners, he said adding: Nonetheless, we persisted and managed to sift through a huge pile of documents to point out anomalies in the electoral roll for a Bangalore seat that we had lost. In about six months from now, we will come out with many such disclosures which would establish that vote chori has been on in most places across the country. Even in the Lok Sabha polls, there were manipulations in 70-80 seats, said Gandhi, referring to last year's general elections which saw the BJP falling short of a majority and forming the government with the help of allies like JD(U) and TDP. Gandhi, who has been accompanied by alliance partners Tejashwi Yadav (RJD) and Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI ML Liberation) all through the Yatra, began the day with a motorcycle rally which saw his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Vadra pillion riding the bike he drove. Vadra, who left in the afternoon, had been with the Yatra since Tuesday when she also addressed a public meeting in Madhubani. In Muzaffarpur, the leaders were joined by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, who told a rally that the deletion of 65 lakh voters' names from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar, as part of special intensive revision, was worse than terrorism. The rally also served as an ice-breaker as young Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar was seen shaking hands with Tejashwi Yadav. The perceived rivalry between the two leaders has been a matter of much speculation in a section of the media. The BJP sought to fish in the INDIA bloc's troubled waters by raking up controversial statements made by Stalin and his cabinet colleagues against the people of Bihar. A number of video clips were shared by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on social media. In addition, BJP workers in Patna burnt an effigy of Stalin and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who had joined the Yatra a day ago and has been similarly accused of having belittled Bihar. Deletion of voters' names in Bihar worse than terrorism, says Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

Voter Adhikar Yatra aims to fight for peoples rights, says Priyanka Gandhi

PATNA: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the Voter Adhikar Yatra, launched by her brother and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is a movement to fight for the peoples democratic rights. Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarpur, Priyanka expressed satisfaction over the publics overwhelming response to the 16-day, 3,000-km Yatra, which commenced from Sasaram in Rohtas district on 17 August. The people have clearly understood our message, about vote theft and the systematic denial of their right to vote. In this sense, the Yatra has been very successful, she said. Rahul Gandhi, in his address, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the practice of vote theft originated in Gujarat and was later implemented nationwide. The Gujarat model is not based on economics, but on electoral manipulation, he remarked, accusing the BJP of replicating this model across the country. Rahul Gandhi's voter yatra reaches crescendo as Priyanka joins The Congress leader further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been winning elections by stealing votes with the help of the Election Commission. In the 2019 General Elections, Modi confidently claimed his party would win 300 seats, even as opinion polls suggested otherwise. Remarkably, the BJP secured around 300 seats, a result that raises serious questions, he said. Rahul also pointed to Maharashtra and Haryana, where election outcomes were allegedly inconsistent with pre-poll trends. In Maharashtra alone, around one crore new voters were added within just four months, and they all voted for the BJP and its allies. How is that possible? he questioned. Reiterating his accusations, Rahul claimed that Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were manipulating elections in collusion with the Election Commission of India. Thats why the BJP government quietly passed a law in 2023 granting legal immunity to Election Commissioners. If everything is above board, why the need for such protection? he asked. Priyanka Gandhi to join 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar on August 26 Citing the example of Mahadevapura assembly seat, he alleged that vote theft was not limited to Bengaluru Central but occurred in 7080 constituencies across the country during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He said the Congress was actively investigating similar cases of electoral fraud nationwide. Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin joined the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Darbhanga. Travelling in an open vehicle alongside Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, and other INDIA bloc leaders, Stalin received an enthusiastic reception from crowds along the route. Addressing a public meeting, Stalin said the Yatra had become a beacon of hope for those whose names had been unfairly deleted from the voter list. He pledged to return to Bihar to join the victory march once the INDIA bloc forms a government after the assembly elections. Welcoming Stalins participation, INDIA bloc leaders said his presence added strength and momentum to the Yatra in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi reiterated the urgent need for jobs, progress, and clean elections, asserting that ending voter fraud was the first step towards meaningful development. He reminded the audience that Bihar has always been a land of revolution from the Champaran movement against British rule to todays battle against electoral manipulation. This movement will spread from Bihar across the entire country, he declared. On the eleventh day of the Yatra, thousands joined in Darbhanga. Rahul and Priyanka were seen riding a motorcycle, with Priyanka as pillion, while other INDIA bloc leaders also travelled on motorbikes, drawing enthusiastic crowds. Rahul later expressed deep gratitude for the warmth and support he received. Wherever I go in Bihar, I feel at home, he said, adding that the Yatra had achieved its goal, as now, even young children were chanting, vote chor, gaddi chhor (vote thief, leave the throne).

Rahul Gandhis Voter Adhikar Yatra | Congress Pushes for Electoral Rights | BJP vs Congress Showdown

leader Rahul Gandhi continues his Yatra from Darbhanga to Muzaffarpur, BiharCongress leader Rahul Gandhi continues his Yatra, taking the fight to the streets with a campaign focused on voter rights, democracy, and electoral reform. The yatra comes at a crucial time with the 2025 Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, sparking a fierce political face-off between the Congress Party and BJP.In todays coverage, we track Rahul Gandhis speeches, the public response, and the Congress strategy to position itself as the defender of democracy and electoral rights. With BJP attacking Congress for what it calls political drama and the INDIA bloc rallying behind Rahul Gandhi, the Voter Adhikar Yatra has become one of the most watched political developments of the season. n18oc_indiaNews18 Mobile App - https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

LIVE | Rahul Gandhi Voter Adhikar Yatra from Darbhanga to Muzaffarpur

Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin joins 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

MUZAFFARPUR: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and DMK MP Kanimozhi on Wednesday joined the Congress' 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district. Soon after joining 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', Stalin in a post on X wrote, Touchdown Bihar. The land of respected Lalu Prasad Ji greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with every stolen vote. Joined by my brothers Rahul Gandhi Jee, Tejashwi Yadav and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' turns people's pain into unstoppable strength. Touchdown #Bihar . The land of respected @laluprasadrjd greets me with fire in its eyes, the soil heavy with every stolen vote. Joined my brothers @RahulGandhi , @yadavtejashwi and sister @priyankagandhi as the #VoteAdhikarYatra turns people's pain into unstoppable strength. pic.twitter.com/3aQFje8QV5 M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) August 27, 2025 Earlier in the day, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav rode motorcycles as they made their way through the streets of Muzaffarpur district during the ongoing 'Voter Adhikar Yatra'. Senior Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen riding pillion on her brother's motorcycle. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, and Yadav rode the motorcycles as the yatra entered Muzaffarpur from Darbhanga district, with people lining the streets to welcome them. The 1,300-km yatra was launched on August 17 from Sasaram and will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to participate in Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' in Bihar

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, along with his deputy Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and other cabinet ministers, departed for Bihar from Delhi to participate in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra'. They are scheduled to join the Yatra near Darbhanga, Bihar, demonstrating their support for the Congress leader's initiative.

SIR new weapon for 'vote chori', will protect 'one person, one vote': Rahul

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a ew weapon for vote chori and vowed to protect the one person, one vote principle by stopping vote theft. Gandhi made the remarks in a post on his WhatsApp channel while talking about his meeting with a group of people who had cast their votes in the previous Lok Sabha election but their names were deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in Bihar. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha met the group at the launch of his Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar's Sasaram on Sunday. In his post in Hindi along with a picture of the meeting, Gandhi said, The SIR is a new weapon for vote theft. Coincidentally, these people standing with me in this picture are a 'living' proof of this theft. All of them had cast their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha election -- but by the time the Bihar Assembly polls came, their identity, their existence were erased from the democracy of India, he said. Do you know who they are? Raj Mohan Singh (70): Farmer and retired soldier; Umravati Devi (35): Dalit and labourer; Dhanjay Kumar Bind (30): Backward class and labourer; Sita Devi (45): Woman and former MGNREGA labourer; Raju Devi (55): Backward class and labourer; Mohmuddin Ansari (52): Minority and labourer, he said. The collusion of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission (EC) is punishing them for being Bahujan and poor -- even our soldiers were not spared -- Gandhi said. Neither will they have a vote nor identity or rights, he added. Due to social discrimination and economic conditions, they are unable to fight against the conspiracy of the system. We stand here with them to protect the most basic right of 'one person, one vote', the Congress leader asserted. This is a question of rights and of everyone's participation in a democracy, he said, adding that we will not let it end under any circumstances. Later, in Aurangabad, Gandhi met another set of people who had voted in earlier elections but their names were deleted from the new draft voter list. Sharing an over-four-minute video of his interaction in Aurangabad, Gandhi said, The votes of people who voted in the last four-five elections were also stolen in Bihar. And, when asked for the reason, the only answer received was -- an order has come from above. This is a fight for the rights of the poor -- we will not stop. We will stop vote theft, he said. In the video, Gandhi is seen interacting with people whose names have been deleted from the voters' list. He was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insan Party's Mukesh Sahani and CPI(ML) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya. Gandhi told the group that the Narendra Modi government brought in a law in 2023 to ensure that no one can take action against those who run the EC and it was completely wrong. Meanwhile, Gandhi, Yadav and Sahani also prayed at the Devkund Surya Mandir in Aurangabad as their Voter Adhikar Yatra entered its second day. Travelling from Kutumba, the yatra reached Gayaji on Monday evening. Embarking on the 1,300-km Voter Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram, Gandhi accused the EC on Sunday of stealing elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA opposition bloc will not let their latest conspiracy to steal the Bihar polls through the SIR exercise succeed. After 16 days, the yatra is scheduled to conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. The yatra is being undertaken in a hybrid mode, on foot and by vehicles, as was Gandhi's Manipur-to-Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It will pass through Aurangabad, Gayaji, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.

Whole country now knows EC 'stealing' elections in collusion with BJP: Rahul

SASARAM: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed the whole country now knows that the Election Commission is stealing elections in collusion with the BJP and asserted that the INDIA bloc will not let their latest conspiracy to steal Bihar Assembly polls succeed, as he embarked on his 1,300 km 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in the state. Gandhi alleged that assembly and Lok Sabha polls were being stolen across the country and there was a conspiracy in Bihar to do the same through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Addressing the gathering here at the launch event of the yatra covering over 20 districts in Bihar, Gandhi said while he was asked to submit an affidavit after his press conference exposing vote chori, no such demand was made from BJP leaders who made claims in their presser. In the whole country, assembly and Lok Sabha elections are being stolen and their latest conspiracy is to delete and add voters through SIR to steal the elections in Bihar, Gandhi charged. We have come here to tell you that we will not let them steal the election in Bihar. People of Bihar will not let them steal elections. The poor only have the power of vote and we will not let them steal polls, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. He said the whole country now knows what the EC is doing and the Congress showed how it is carrying out this heft. Wherever this theft is happening, be it Bihar, Maharashtra, Assam, West Bengal, we will catch their theft and put it before the people, Gandhi said. He also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs the government along with billionaires. Your vote is stolen and then your money is handed over to 5-6 billionaires...the truth of SIR, the vote chori in Bihar, we will put it before the people, Gandhi said. He asserted that it is a fight to save the Constitution. Gandhi alleged that the RSS and the BJP are trying to erase the Constitution. In every election the BJP wins. In Maharashtra, all opinion polls said the INDIA bloc will win the assembly polls. In the Lok Sabha polls, our alliance won but after four months in the same Maharashtra, the BJP alliance swept the assembly polls as one crore voters were added through magic and wherever such additions happened, the BJP won, he claimed. Gandhi said the INDIA bloc parties complained to the EC and asked for video footage but the poll body refused. He said the Congress had shown that over one lakh votes were stolen in one assembly segment of a Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka in 2024 and the BJP won that parliamentary seat. The Congress leader said the EC asked for an affidavit from him over his press conference but did not ask the BJP leaders to do so when they held their presser and made claims. They say submit an affidavit on the data I had put forward when it is their data that I cited, Gandhi said. The yatra launch event here was attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, Vikassheel Insaan Party's Mukesh Sahani, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI(M)'s Subhashini Ali and CPI's P Sandosh Kumar. With the Assembly polls barely three months away, Gandhi, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, launched the yatra from BIADA Ground, Sasaram. After 16 days, the yatra will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. The yatra will be in a hybrid mode, on foot and by vehicle, as was Gandhi's Manipur to Mumbai Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, party leaders said. It will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chhapra and Ara.

Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' starts from Sasaram in Bihar on August 17

PATNA: With Bihar gearing up for assembly elections, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is all set to launch Vote Adhikar Yatra from Sasaram in Rohtas district on Sunday, to highlight the championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged in voter list through the special intensive revision (SIR) . After landing at Sasaram, Rahul will visit Suara Aerodrome Ground near Sasaram, where he will address a public meeting and meet people from Tribal community. Later in the day, he will hold a roadshow at Dehri-on-Sone and start his Pad Yatra. The 16-day Yatra, aimed at championing electoral reforms and exposing alleged in voter list through special intensive revision (SIR), will culminate in a grand rally in Patna on September 1. Leaders of INDIA bloc partners, including Tejashwi Prasad Yadav (RJD) and Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), are expected to join the yatra. The Yatra will cover districts, including Gaya, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Katihar, Purnea, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Saran, Bhojpur and Patna. On September 1, a mega Voter Adhikar Rally is scheduled to be held at Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, which will be attended by INDIA bloc leaders. Former Bihar Congress chief Alkhilesh Prasad Singh said that all necessary formalities like permission for landing of chopper and ground for public meeting have already been completed for the proposed Vote Adhikar Yatra. Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member, said that the Yatra will build a tempo in favour of Opposition INDIA bloc ahead of assembly elections in Bihar scheduled to be held in October-November. The Opposition alleged that SIR launched by Election Commission led to deletion of names of 65 lakh electors in state. EC's special intensive revision is a deliberate design to tamper with votes, disproportionately affecting backward, Muslim communities and migrant workers, said Bihar Congress president Rajesh Kumar. He further said that on August 18, Rahul will start pad yatra which will pass through Dev Road Amba in Kutumba assembly constituency, covering Aurangabad district. On Saturday, Rahul on X said, Sixteen days, 20-plus districts, 1,300-plus kilometres. We are coming among the people with voter rights yatra. This is the right to protect the most fundamental democratic right-one person, one vote. Join us to save the Constitution. 16 20+ 1,300+ .. - , pic.twitter.com/4zturHDnOl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2025

'Fight to protect one person, one vote': Rahul Gandhi to embark on 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' from Bihar's Sasaram

BIHAR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will embark on a 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' across Bihar from here on Sunday, with his party asserting it will fight for the one person, one vote principle and not accept the Election Commission becoming a compartment of the BJP's so-called double engine. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, along with RJD's Tejashwi Yadav and other Mahagathbandhan leaders, will undertake the 16-day and 1,300 km-long yatra from Sasaram, which will conclude with a rally in Patna on September 1. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, 16 days, 20+ districts, 1,300+ km. We are coming among the people with the Voter Adhikar Yatra. This is a fight to protect the most basic democratic right - 'one person, one vote'. 16 20+ 1,300+ .. - , pic.twitter.com/4zturHDnOl Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 16, 2025 Join us in Bihar to save the Constitution, he added. Addressing a press conference at the Indira Bhawan in New Delhi, Congress's media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said, Whenever Rahul Gandhi ji has set out for a yatra, the democracy of this country has turned a page. 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' will be a historic march. It will prove to be a milestone in the history of our democracy. We will not accept that the Election Commission becomes a compartment of this so-called 'double engine'. We are fighting against this and will continue to do so in the future, he added. The party has been protesting against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging the EC's exercise is aimed at disenfranchising voters in Bihar ahead of the Assembly elections due later this year. The Congress urged the people of Bihar to join the 'yatra' for their rights and entitlements so that democracy can get a direction from Bihar. The yatra, starting in Bihar from August 17, is a journey to make people aware because the conspirators will not be deterred and they will try to steal votes, Khera said. The yatra will conclude with a huge rally in Patna on September 1, and the people of the INDIA bloc will participate in it, he added. He added that the 'yatra' has been planned to fight for the right of 'one person-one vote'. It is possible to breathe freely in independent India because we have the power to vote. Rahul Gandhi has started a struggle so that every citizen of the country can breathe freely, Khera said. The way the game of adding and deducting fake votes was going on, the BJP people have been caught red-handed, he claimed, adding that ow, even ordinary citizens are giving evidence of vote theft. When our INDIA bloc colleagues and social workers appealed together, the Supreme Court also had to intervene. Public has woken up: Rahul Gandhi shares new video highlighting 'vote theft' This conspiracy was not just to snatch votes. It was a conspiracy to snatch your and our identity. Today, the right to vote is being snatched from the Dalits, the deprived, the oppressed, the exploited, the minorities; tomorrow their participation will be snatched, Khera alleged. He claimed that a conspiracy was being hatched to attack the poor, against which the people of the country have raised their voice. The 'yatra' will pass through Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Lakhisarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnea, Araria, Supaul, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan, Chapra and Ara. At a press briefing in Patna, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that when the Election Commission announced the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, the leaders of the INDIA bloc went to meet poll panel officials, who had stated that 20 per cent of the voters in Bihar would lose their franchise. We demanded a discussion on this issue in the House, but the BJP government did not consider it necessary. When the new draft list came out after SIR in Bihar, many irregularities were revealed. When we are asking for answers on this, the BLO (block-level officer) has no answer, he claimed. In such a situation, we have decided that the Congress will start a 'Voter Awareness Campaign'. In this, we will go to all districts of Bihar and make people aware, so that they are not deprived of their rights, Singh said. He also said that Rahul Gandhi is fighting to save the Constitution. Rahul Gandhi is the voice of the poor, deprived, women, farmers, and labourers of the country. We request the people of Bihar to take part in this journey and help us in foiling the plans of the Election Commission-BJP, Singh added. Gandhi on Thursday said, We are waging a direct fight against 'vote chori' from Bihar with the 'Voter Adhikar Yatra. He asserted that his party will ensure a clean voters' list across the country. 'Vote chori' is not just an election issue but a decisive battle to protect democracy, the Constitution and the principle of 'one man, one vote', he had said. The Congress on Tuesday claimed that vote chori was a do-or-die issue for it, and announced a roadmap to take its allegations to the people through various activities. 'Got a chance to have tea with dead voters': Rahul Gandhi takes shot at EC over Bihar SIR

Dispose all pending cases against MPs, MLAs: Bihar DGP instructs subordinates ahead of polls

PATNA: Bihar lawmakers with criminal antecedents have a tough time ahead as Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar has directed all Superintendents of Police (SPs) to ensure timely investigation into the cases against MPs/MLAs and submission of chargesheets. Kumar has also asked SPs to initiate departmental proceedings against investigating officers who have been found lax in investigation of such cases. Delay in investigation lead to piling of pending cases, he said, adding that special MP/MLA courts have been set up for speedy trial of such cases. DGP has directed IGs and DIGs of all ranges to monitor investigation into such cases on a regular basis and send details of disposal of cases from districts under their jurisdiction to the police headquarters. Lapses on the part of investigating officers will not be tolerated, an ADG rank officer said. According to a report of Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), about 45 per cent of MLAs in Bihar have criminal records or criminal cases registered against them. Some of these cases were of serious nature, including murder, attempt to murder, kidnaping and crime against women. Similarly, 38 per cent MPs from the state have criminal cases pending against them. However, majority of the cases were registered against the lawmakers for defying prohibitionary orders, obstructions in government work, rioting and causing damages to nations property during protests. In addition, cases related to corruption, forgery and violation of model code of conduct during elections were pending against them in special MP/MLA courts. Reports suggested that Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur and Purnea have the highest number of cases against MPs/MLAs. The Patna high court has also directed special MP/MLA courts across the state to expedite cases pending against lawmakers. In fact, we want such cases to be disposed of before forthcoming assembly elections in the state, a senior police officer remarked.

Bihar SIR: 230 voters stay in single house

PATNA: Altogether 230 people reside in a single house in Bihars Jamui district, as recorded by a booth-level officer (BLO) of Chaudiha panchayat during the recently concluded special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Anomalies like this one in the voters list came to surface after Election Commission published the draft electoral rolls on August 1. More than 200 residents of Aamin village under Chaudiha panchayat complained to district administration that their address has been mentioned as house number 3 of ward number 3 in the draft rolls. According to the residents, they live in separate houses but the draft electoral rolls showed them staying in the house number 3. How is it possible? It shows that the BLO filled in enumeration forms sitting in office and did not bother to conduct house-to-house survey, said a resident of Aamin village. Noor Hasan (70), another resident, said the BLO did not visit her house to distribute enumeration forms. She alleged that the BLO visited a house on the outskirts of the village and filled forms without signatures of electors. This is sheer callousness, she said. Another resident Mohammad Danish alleged that BLOs Rajiv Kumar and Gautam Kumar filled in enumeration forms without conducting door-to-door campaign in the village. Mohammad Shahnawaz said the purpose of SIR has been defeated due to callousness of the BLOs. He said Kaushal Khatoon, wife of Mohammad Alizan, died three years back but her name figured in the draft rolls. The family had submitted enumeration form to the BLO, but it was not rectified, he alleged. Deputy election officer, Jamui, Mohammad Nazrul Haq refused to comment on the issue, saying that the report has been sent to the authorities for necessary correction. BLO Rajiv Kumar claimed that it happened due to technical glitch. I have informed the block development officer. The anomaly in inclusion of dead persons names in the draft rolls will be rectified by submitted form 7, the BLO said over phone on Saturday. In Patnas Gardanibagh, 22 dead persons figured in the draft rolls. In booth number 479 of Digha assembly constituency, voters list shows Shankar Prasad, his son Navin and Navins wife Sita Devi as electors with serial numbers 799, 804 and 806. The three people died in 2010, 2020 and 2021. Deceased Shankars brother Surendra Prasad revealed that the enumeration form that he filled in had anomalies. He cited the case of his daughter-in-law Ravita. In column of her husbands name, his (Surendras) name has been mentioned, he said. Ram Sundar Rai of Saristabad revealed that he was surprised to find his wife Sundarpari Devis name in the draft rolls. His wife died in 2023. I did not fill in enumeration form of my wife, who is no more. Yet her name exists in the draft electoral rolls, he said. In addition, 2,92,048 voters in the state have their house number 0, 00 and 000. The scrutiny of draft rolls showed Magadh and Patna divisions have the highest number of voters with their house numbers reading 0. The electoral list of Obra constituency in Auraganad district revealed the highest number of such voters at 6,637, followed by Phulwari (5,905), Maner (4,602), Forbesganj (4,155), Danapur (4,063), Gopalganj (3,957), Patna Sahib (3,806), Hajipur (3,802), Darbhanga (3,634) and Gaya Town (3,561). A total of 15 constituencies saw over 3,000 such names. Agiaon in Bhojpur district had the least at 47. When contacted, an official at the chief electoral office said that in villages, a majority of people didnt recall their house numbers, so they mentioned their house numbers as 0. We are looking into this, he said.

Darbhanga Nursing Student Shot Dead By Wifes Father Over Inter-Caste Marriage

The victim, Rahul Kumar, a second-year BSc Nursing student at DMCH, was shot at point-blank range inside the hospital premises.

Ahead of Bihar polls, BPCC working president Ashok Kumar switches to JD(U)

PATNA: In a major setback to the Congress ahead of the state assembly election, six-time MLA and Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) working president Dr Ashok Kumar(Ram) resigned from the party and joined Nitish Kumars Janata Dal (United) at a function held in Patna on Sunday. Ram, an influential Dalit leader from the Darbhanga region, was inducted into the JD(U) by the partys working president Sanjay Kumar Jha in the presence of senior leaders, including Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and state president Umesh Kushwaha. Ashoks son Atirek, along with several supporters, also joined JD(U). Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Jha said the JD(U) would welcome all leaders who wanted to strengthen the hands of Chief Minister and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar in the upcoming assembly elections. Several other leaders of the opposition Grand Alliance are in touch with us, he claimed. JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha also welcomed Ram into the party and expressed confidence that his joining would ensure the ruling alliance's victory in the upcoming assembly election, due in October-November this year. Ram decided to join JD(U) after being influenced by the partys policies and Chief Minister Nitish Kumars leadership, he added. Expressing his views on the occasion, Ram said he would fully support Nitish Kumar in becoming the chief minister for another term. We will work hard to strengthen the hands of Nitish ji, who is the saviour of the Dalits in the true sense, he told the media after joining JD(U). Today is a significant day for me in my political career, he remarked. Rams resignation is expected to impact Congresss prospects in the upcoming state assembly elections. He had earlier served as leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state assembly and as a minister in the Rabri Devi cabinet. He hails from Kusheshwarsthan in Darbhanga district. His father, Baleshwar Ram, was a former minister and Congress MP. Sources said Ashok was feeling sidelined by the party leadership after the appointment of Dalit MLA Rajesh Kumar as state president. He also reportedly did not share a good rapport with the AICC in-charge for Bihar, Krishna Allavaru.

Railway safety commissioner cautions Ministry against contractual hiring for critical safety work

NEW DELHI: AM Choudhary, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Southern Circle), who held in his probe report that the accident of the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express in 2024 was a result of sabotage, has cautioned the Railway Ministry against contractual hiring for critical safety work. Raising concern over the issue, Choudhary said, Engagement and exposure of contractual staff for the maintenance and operation of critical safety features and systems, as well as allowing them to develop skills in these areas must be reviewed as a priority. It must be brought to a minimal in short term and null in long term, he added. In their action taken report, the Railway Ministry stated that the contractual staff, according to the policy, are used for non-critical activities along with or under the supervision of Railway Staff. The CRS's probe, reported by PTI on Wednesday, revealed that miscreants forcefully removed the components of the track interlocking system, leading to the accident. Choudhary also observed that the accident happened ot due to automatic/sudden failure of any equipment/assets but due to the forceful alteration in the designed position of LH tongue rails by the miscreant. On October 11, 2024, Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express (12578) collided with a stationary goods train at the Kavaraippettai railway station in Tamil Nadu's Chennai rail division at around 8.30 pm, leading to injuries to nine passengers. The CRS recommendation regarding non-engagement of contractual staff for crucial safety work has reflected the concerns already raised by the Indian Railways Signal & Telecom Maintainers' Union (IRSTMU) when the Ministry on May 6 issued a circular for hiring signalling and telecom staff on contractual basis as a pilot project for the execution of certain non-critical activities. In a letter to the Railway minister on June 3, IRSTMU General Secretary Alok Chandra Prakash had demanded to fill the vacant posts with permanent employees and not contractual as the S&T department is closely related to the safety and security of railways and passengers. Prakash said that the CRS recommendation is in the interest of passengers' safety. I am glad that the Railway Ministry announced permanent hiring after our demand, but its pilot project for contractual hiring is also going on, he said. I think the CRS has touched a very crucial safety aspect. Playing with the safety of railways and passengers should be stopped immediately and privatisation through backdoors should be stopped, Prakash added.

Sabotage caused Bagmati Express train accident, finds probe

The Commissioner of Railway Safety has determined that the Mysuru-Darbhanga Bagmati Express accident was caused by sabotage, prompting increased security measures and investigations.

Ahead of elections Bihar cabinet clears Rs 316 crore for five new dairy, milk powder plants

PATNA: Milk producers in Bihar have reasons to rejoice ahead of the state assembly elections. The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of five dairy plants, including two milk powder plants, at an estimated cost of Rs 316 crore in the state. Giving a nod to the State Animal and Fish Resources Departments proposal, the state cabinet led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved a SIDBI Cluster Development Fund (SCDF) loan for setting up a dairy plant each with a 2 lakh litre capacity at Darbhanga and Wazirganj (Gaya Ji), while another plant with a one lakh litre capacity is to be set up in Gopalganj district. Cabinet Secretariat Departments Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) S Siddharth told the media that the dairy plant at Darbhanga will be set up for Rs 71.32 crore, while the other two plants at Gaya Ji and Gopalganj will be set up for Rs 50.27 crore and Rs 54.73 crore, respectively. Milk powder plants will be set up with a capacity of 30 metric tonnes each at Dehri-On-Sone (Rohtas) and Sitamarhi districts, Siddharth said, adding that the plant at Rohtas will cost Rs 69.66 crore and the one at Sitamarhi Rs 70.33 crore. The decision would not only pave the way for the supply of additional quality milk, but people would also get it on time, besides creating employment opportunities at the local level, the ACS said. In another significant decision, the Cabinet approved the Urban Development and Housing Departments proposal for constituting the Bihar Rajya Safai Karmchari Aayog for the overall development and protection of the rights of sanitation workers across the state. The commission will be headed by a chairman, a vice-chairman, and five members, including one woman or transgender member. Its main job will be to bring sanitation workers into the mainstream, ensuring their economic and social development, welfare, rehabilitation, grievance redressal, and protection of their rights. Allocation for land acquisition for Maa Janki Temple In another important decision, the Cabinet also gave a revised approval of Rs 165.57 crore for the acquisition of 50 acres of land for tourism-related development work and infrastructure facilities at Punauradham temple, believed to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, in Sitamarhi district. Earlier, Rs 120.58 crore was sanctioned for the purpose. Notably, the Cabinet had on July 1 sanctioned Rs 882.87 crore for the integrated development of Maa Jankis grand temple at Punaura Dham. It will be developed on the lines of the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya. The government has already constituted a nine-member trust christened Shree Janki Janm Bhumi Punaura Dham Mandir Nyas Samiti. CM Nitish Kumar, who unveiled the final design of the temple on June 22, inspected the Janki Mandir at Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi district last Saturday. Giving necessary directions to officials, Kumar said that the old structure of the Maa Janki temple will be preserved as it is. Pension for journalists hiked The Cabinet also hiked the monthly pension and family pension for journalists, who will now get a monthly pension of Rs 15,000 against the existing Rs 6,000, and a monthly family pension of Rs 10,000 against the existing Rs 3,000, Siddharth said. The Cabinet approved Sections 4(1) and 5 of the Bihar Patrakar Samman Pension Yojana Niyamawali 2019. A journalists spouse would be eligible for the monthly pension and family pension only if he/she is neither employed with any media organisation nor with the government. The government said the decision to grant monthly pensions to journalists was aimed at helping them financially so they can lead a dignified life.

Railways working to roll out 100 new Amrit Bharat trains across India

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Railways, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of a future-ready railway network, is working on an ambitious project to roll out 100 modern and hi-tech Amrit Bharat trains for various parts of the country. With the inauguration of four more Amrit Bharat trains from across Bihar on Friday by Prime Minister Modi, the total number of operational Amrit Bharat trains in the country has now reached seven, including the three that were already running including two in Bihars North and eastern regions. The Amrit Bharat train sets are being manufactured under the 'Make in India' initiative, using entirely indigenous technology, with a running capacity of 130 kmph. Working towards the realisation of his vision for a future-ready railway network, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged-off four new Amrit Bharat trains scheduled to run between Rajendra Nagar (Patna) and New Delhi; Bapudham Motihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar Terminal); Darbhanga and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar); and Malda Town and Lucknow (Gomti Nagar) via Bhagalpur. On the sideline of this inaugural event, speaking to the TNIE on Friday here, a senior railway official said the Amrit Bharat train sets are being manufactured with the objective of providing a safe and comfortable travel experience for middle-class and economically weaker passengers. As a total of 3 Amrit Bharat trains have been currently operational across the country, now the number reached 7. The Ministry of Railway is working to roll out 100 new Amrit Bharat rakes in coming days this year and next to ensure safe and faster affordable rail services to poor and middle class people, added an official. He said that earlier, two Amrit Bharat trains had been running between Bihars Darbhanga Anand Vihar Terminal and Saharsa Lokmanya Tilak Terminal. Now, the four more Amrit Bharat trains will start running in Bihar again with all passenger amenities like foldable snack table, mobile holder, foldable bottle holder, fast mobile charging ports, improved and comfortable seating, radium illuminated flooring strips, airline-style lighting that guides the way even in the dark and air spring body which ensures shock-free travel experience. A senior railway official, speaking about the features of Amrit Bharat trains, further added that the trains were equipped with modern and Divyangjan-friendly toilets, an electro-pneumatic flushing system, and automatic soap dispensers. On the safety front, the Amrit Bharat trains have been equipped with the facility of an EP-assisted brake system, and their coaches have been fitted with sealed gangways and vacuum evacuation systems. He further added The most interesting feature is that the railway has made the talk-back unit available in every coach of Amrit Bharat trains running in Bihar in a majority with fire detection system properly installed for the first time in non-AC coaches. Meanwhile, a railway official cited a conservative estimate that the four Amrit Bharat trains flagged off by PM Modi will ferry more than 56 lakh people from economically weaker and middle-class sections per month.

Modi to inaugurate major development projects in Bihar and Bengal today

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones and inaugurate major projects worth over Rs 12,000 crore in West Bengal and poll-bound Bihar on Friday. He will flag off four Amrit Bharat trains from different parts of Bihar. He will visit Motihari in Bihar and Durgapur in West Bengal for this purpose and will also address public meetings at both venues, according to a statement from the PMO. In Bihar, Modi will inaugurate a new Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility in Darbhanga, alongside a state-of-the-art Incubation Facility at STPI in Patna. He will flag off four Amrit Bharat trains between Rajendranagar Terminal (Patna) and New Delhi, as well as between BapudhamMotihari and Delhi (Anand Vihar), and between Darbhanga and Lucknow via Bhagalpur. The projects worth Rs 7,200 crore for the state form part of a broader initiative across the oil and gas, power, road, and rail sectors. He will dedicate several railway projects to the nation, including the automatic signalling system between the Samastipur-Bachhwara rail lines to enhance efficiency in train operations. The doubling of the Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur rail linespart of the Darbhanga-Samastipur doubling projects valued at Rs 580 crorewill also be inaugurated. The Mithilanchal region, comprising electorally significant districts such as Darbhanga and Samastipur, will benefit from these developments. Modi will also lay the foundation stone for a Vande Bharat train maintenance facility at Patliputra. The Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj rail line doubling project is estimated at `4,080 crore. In the road sector, the PM will lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Ara-Mohania NH-319 and the Patna-Buxar NH-92, to reduce travel time. He will also inaugurate the four-lane Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319, valued at Rs 820 crore, which is a critical link connecting Ara town to the Golden Quadrilateral (NG-02). The Prime Minister will inaugurate a series of fisheries development projects. He will hand over keys to 12,000 beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin scheme. In West Bengals Durgapur, the PM will unveil projects worth Rs 5,000 crore. He will lay the stone for the oil and gas infrastructure to be developed by BPCL and gas distribution project in Bankura and Purulia.

Video: RJD Leader 'Blocks' Ambulance During Bharat Bandh Stir In Bihar

The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Wednesday came under severe criticism after one of its leaders allegedly refused to give way to an ambulance while participating in the Bharat Bandh in Darbhanga city of Bihar.

Rahul Gandhi leads opposition march to Patna's EC office against electoral rolls revision

PATNA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday led a Mahagathbandhan march to the Election Commission's office in Patna to protest the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls before the Bihar assembly polls. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, who arrived in the state capital in the morning, was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI general secretary D Raja and senior leaders of other opposition parties. Gandhi, along with the other leaders, were atop a vehicle during the protest march which started at Income Tax Golambar in Patna. Rail and road traffic were disrupted in parts of Bihar as workers of opposition parties hit the streets to enforce a statewide bandh called by the Mahagathbandhan. A large number of Opposition party leaders blocked the movement of road traffic on Patna's Mahatma Gandhi Setu by burning tyres. LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Bihar party President Rajesh Ram, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI General Secretary D Raja, and others takes part in a protest rally during 'Bihar bandh' called by the INDIA bloc Independent Lok Sabha MP from Purnea, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, along with his supporters, reached Sachiwalay Halt railway station and tried to disrupt the movement of railway traffic. Yadav's supporters blocked rail and road traffic in several parts of Patna as well as in other parts of the state, including Araria, Purnea, Katihar and Muzaffarpur. Speaking to reporters in Patna, he said, The Election Commission, through its special intensive revision of electoral rolls, is snatching voting rights from migrants, Dalits, Mahadalits, and poor voters. It's a conspiracy to block votes ahead of the Bihar assembly polls due later this year. Workers from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, CPI(ML) Liberation and CPM burnt tyres and blocked roads in support of the Bihar Bandh in Arwal, Jehanabad and Darbhanga as well. Meanwhile, adequate security arrangements have been made for bypolls to nagar panchayats in different parts of Patna district. SC to hear on July 10 pleas challenging EC's decision to undertake revision of electoral rolls in Bihar

Rahul Leads Oppn March To Patnas EC Office Against Special Intensive Revision Of Electoral Rolls

PATNA/ARWAL/JEHANABAD/DARBHANGA (BIHAR), Jul 9: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday led a Mahagathbandhan march to the Election Commissions office in Patna to protest the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls before the Bihar assembly polls. The leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, who arrived in the state capital in the morning, was accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI general secretary D Raja and senior leaders of other opposition parties. Gandhi, [] The post Rahul Leads Oppn March To Patnas EC Office Against Special Intensive Revision Of Electoral Rolls appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Bihar to get four more Amrit Bharat express trains. Check details

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced four new Amrit Bharat Express trains for Bihar, bringing the total to seven nationwide, with five originating from the state. These semi-high-speed trains, designed similarly to the Vande Bharat, include a daily Patna-Delhi service and weekly routes connecting Darbhanga to Gomti Nagar, Malda Town to Lucknow, and Saharsa to Amritsar.

Railway Minister announces key projects for poll-bound Bihar; says Rs 10,000 crore budget allotted

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, during his visit to Patna on Monday ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, announced the introduction of four new Amrit Bharat trains and that a budget of Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned to strengthen railway infrastructure in the state. Speaking at the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony for a new level crossing gate near Karpoori Gram railway station in Samastipur district, the minister also inaugurated several upgraded passenger amenities at the station. The NDA government at the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned Rs 10,000 crore in this year's budget for rail infrastructure in Bihar, Vaishnaw told reporters. In the past 11 years, over 34,000 km of new railway tracks have been laid, and 1,300 stations are being redeveloped as modern Amrit Bharat stations, he added. The four new trains will include a daily train from Patna to Delhi, weekly services from Darbhanga and Malda to Gomti Nagar in Lucknow, services from Saharsa to Amritsar in Punjab, and a daily service from Jogbani to Erode in Tamil Nadu. The minister also announced that the Karpoori Gram railway station would now come under the Samastipur railway division. Earlier, it was under the jurisdiction of Sonpur railway division. Speaking about upcoming railway infrastructure projects, the minister announced that a third rail line between Bhagalpur and Jamalpur, covering a distance of 53 kilometres, will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,156 crore. He further added that the doubling of the BakhtiyarpurRajgirTilaiya rail route, spanning 104 kilometres, will be carried out at a cost of Rs 2,017 crore. Another major project the doubling of the RampurhatBhagalpur route is also being planned, with an estimated budget of Rs 3,000 crore and a total distance of 177 kilometres. The minister also spoke about developments in the technology sector. He announced that two new Software Technology Parks of India (STPIs) for Bihar are ready and will be inaugurated soon. One is the new STPI building in Patliputra, Patna, which has been built at a cost of around Rs 53 crore, and the other is an upcoming STPI in Darbhanga, with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. Union Minister Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpoori Thakur, was also present on the occasion. Earlier in the day in Patna, the railway minister inspected passenger facilities at Digha Bridge halt station and gave necessary instructions to officials.

Over 30 Children Hospitalised In Bihar After Consuming Mid-Day Meal, Lizard Found In Food

Over 30 children were admitted to the hospital after eating the mid-day meal at a school in Bihar's Darbhanga district as a lizard was reportedly found in the food.

25 Children Admitted To Hospital After Eating Mid-Day Meal In Bihar

At least 25 children were hospitalised after eating the mid-day meal at a school in Bihar's Darbhanga district, with some alleging that a lizard was found in the food.

Ganga's surging waters submerge Varanasi temples, disrupting pedestrian access

LUCKNOW: As rivers across Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the central and eastern regions, continue to swell, the Ganga in Varanasi is rising at an alarming rate, submerging one ghat after another and flooding temples along the riverfront. In the last 50 hours, the water level has surged by 2.96 metres. According to the Central Water Commission, the Ganga was measured at 62.28 metres at 8 am on Wednesday. It stood at 61.95 metres at 6 pm on Tuesday, and 59.32 metres at 6 am on Monday, marking an average rise of over 5 cm per hour. The current level, however, remains 8.31 metres below the official warning mark. With the advancing waterline, both small and large temples along the riverfront have started submerging. The Devi temple located near the Dashashwamedh Ghat Aarti site is now underwater. A similar situation has been reported at Manikarnika Ghat, which has also gone under. If the trend continues unchecked, pedestrian movement between ghats may soon become impossible, as the connecting pathways are likely to be submerged as well. The sandy stretch in front of Tulsi Ghat has already been swallowed by the river, and much of the soil accumulation near Assi Ghat has eroded. Nearly two-thirds of the sand dunes near Assi Ghat have disappeared under water. Water has reached the steps of several ghats, including Bhadaini, Janki Ghat, Kedar Ghat, Panchganga, Lalita, Man Singh, and Darbhanga Ghat. If the river continues to rise at the same pace, more ghats could become inaccessible by next week. As a precautionary measure, boats and barges stationed along the river have been pulled further inland. However, the strong current, combined with algae carried in by the floodwaters, is creating additional hazards by clogging boat routes and complicating navigation. Boatmen have begun conducting night watches to protect their vessels from damage or drifting. Amid the mounting flood concerns, the Varanasi district administration has gone on high alert. The District Magistrate chaired a review meeting and instructed all departments to remain on standby. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) units have begun mobilising for emergency operations. Nearly 11 NDRF teams stationed in Varanasi are currently responsible for relief and rescue operations across 42 districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Punjab Police arrest travel agent behind fake college offer letter scam

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Police have arrested the mastermind behind the fake offer letter scam, Brijesh Mishra. The scam lured hundreds of Indian students aspiring to study in Canada. Sources said that on June 24, Mishra was taken into custody after he landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Mishra, who hails from Thalwada in Darbhanga of Bihar, had boarded a flight from Toronto on June 22. Talking with TNIE , Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police of Jalandhar Harinder Singh Gill said, Brijesh Mishra was detained as soon as he landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, as a look-out circular (LOC) had been earlier issued against him in connection with cases registered against him. He was then handed over to a team of Jalandhar Police. We took him into custody on June 24, and yesterday (June 25), he was produced in local court in Jalandhar, and we got his seven-day police remand. Now we are questioning him as nine cases were registered against him in 2023 on charges of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy in division number 6 police station, he said. Gill further said that he is being questioned about others involved in this racket, how he made these fake offer letters of colleges, how many students were contacted, and how much money he charged the victims. We will also be calling the parents of these students who filed the cases against the accused and record their statements, as well as ask them whether their children have been deported or still in Canada, and if so, doing what, he said. Unregistered agencies offer fake overseas jobs for youngsters in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on social media platforms Gill said that during the interrogation, Mishra confessed to having remained in the custody of the Canadian authorities for approximately one and a half years as he was detained. Then, after he was released from detention, he stayed for a few months in Surrey, British Columbia, before returning to India. On June 23, 2023, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) apprehended Mishra while he was trying to sneak into the country illegally. The CBSA conducted a detailed investigation and zeroed in on Brijesh Mishras company Education and Migration, and slapped five charges, including those for counselling misrepresentation, unauthorised representation or advice for consideration, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. In March 2023, approximately 700 students were issued deportation notices by the CBSA over fraudulent offer letters that had been provided to them by Mishra while processing their study visas. Mishra has been accused of running a fake offer letter racket through his consultancy, Education and Migration Services, based in Jalandhar. He allegedly duped hundreds of students between 2016 and 2020 by issuing forged admission letters of colleges in Canada, as scores of students discovered the fraud only after reaching Canada, where they were denied entry or deported when immigration authorities flagged their documents as fake.

Two killed, 50 injured as double-decker bus overturns on Lucknow-Agra Expressway

ETAWAH: Two passengers were killed and about 50 were injured when a double-decker bus travelling from Bihar to Delhi overturned and plunged into a ditch on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway in the Saifai area early Thursday, police said. The accident occurred near the Mandi village when the speeding bus lost control while attempting to overtake a truck. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava said that the accident caused panic among the passengers. Passersby in other vehicles informed the police and highway security, he added. A joint rescue operation was launched to rescue the trapped passengers from the bus. The injured were transported by ambulance to the nearby Saifai Medical College Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were moved to the mortuary, said the SSP. The two deceased have been identified as Shaida (22), a resident of Bardah in Nepal, and Manoj Kumar (52) from Rampur Deeha in Bihar's Darbhanga. The bus was carrying around 80 passengers.

Rahul writes to PM Modi flagging delay in scholarships for students from marginalised communities

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging the deplorable conditions in residential hostels for Dalit, ST, EBC, OBC and minority students and the delay in post-matric scholarships for those from marginalised communities. In his letter to Modi, Gandhi urged the PM to resolve these two critical issues which he said hinder education opportunities for the 90 percent of students who are from marginalised communities. Firstly, the conditions in residential hostels for students from Dalit, ST, EBC, OBC and minority communities are deplorable. During a recent visit to Ambedkar Hostel in Darbhanga, Bihar, students complained about single rooms which 6-7 students were forced to share, unhygienic toilets, unsafe drinking water, lack of mess facilities, and no access to libraries or the internet, the Congress leader said. Secondly, post-matric scholarships for students from marginalised communities are plagued by delays and failures, Rahul said, citing the example of Bihar where he claimed the scholarship portal was non-functional for three years and no student received scholarship in 2021-22. Even thereafter, the number of Dalit students receiving scholarships fell by nearly half, from 1.36 lakh in FY23 to 0.69 lakh in FY24. Students further complain that the scholarship amounts are insultingly low, Gandhi said in his letter to Modi dated June 10. While I have cited examples from Bihar, these failures are widespread across the country. I urge the government to immediately take two actions to remedy these failures, he said. Gandhi called for audit every hostel for students from Dalit, Scheduled Tribes (ST), Economically Backward Class (EBC), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and minority communities to ensure good infrastructure, sanitation, food and academic facilities; and allocate adequate funds to address deficiencies. He also appealed for disbursement of post-matric scholarships on time, increasing scholarship amounts, and improving execution by working closely with state governments. I am sure you agree that India cannot progress unless youth from marginalised communities progress. I look forward to your positive response, Gandhi said in his letter to Modi.

Patna Diary | Nitish Kumar: A CM full of surprises

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar always has a surprise up his sleeve whenever he is in public. This time around, Nitish was participating at a public function in Darbhanga when, in the middle of his speech, he suddenly pointed at Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary, saying, Our partys deputy CM has also arrived, stand up. After this, all the ministers, MPs and others sitting around him stood up while the audience clapped enthusiastically. Undoubtedly, the CM considers standing up as a sign of reverence. To that effect, he had appealed to people to stand up from their respective seats to welcome PM Modi during the Bikramganj rally, giving observers a reason to smile even as poll heat intensifies in Bihar. PK targets Lalu, Tejashwi over CM ambition Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor never misses a chance to take a dig at RJD chief and former Bihar CM Lalu Prasad. During his Bihar Badlao Yatra, he accused Lalu of aspiring to see his son, Tejashwi Yadav, as King of Bihar, even though he has not cleared class 9. Kishor clarified he is not criticising Lalu for his putra moh (affection for son) but praising him because people must learn how to take care of their children from the former CM. Lalu has always been worried about his family and not the people of Bihar, Kishor jibed. He is so worried about his child that he wants him to become king of Bihar. When I say this, people say I complain about him. No! We are praising Lalu Yadav. BJP MLA draws flak from rape-murder victims kin A piquant situation unfolded when BJP MLA Manoj Kumar Gupta asked family members of a rape-murder victim in Muzaffarpur to swear they were telling the truth about delay in treatment of the victim at Patna Medical College and Hospital. The victims family got agitated over the MLAs contention and alleged the latter didnt pay heed to their repeated calls for help when they visited the hospital for treatment of 9-year-old victim. As the situation heated up, deputy CM Vijay Sinha intervened and assured that justice would be done. Sinha said the government has taken a grave view of the incident and the offenders would not be spared. Ramashankar Our correspondent in Bihar ramashankar@newindianexpress.com

Hate Pak as much as RSS, Hindutva groups protest deputy mayors post in Bihar

BJP workers and members of various Hindutva organisations staged a protest outside the office of a Bihar Congress leader, who also serves as the deputy mayor of Darbhanga, over her social media post comparing the RSS to Pakistan. Vice President of the Bihar Congress Minority Wing, Nazia Hasan, posted on social media, now deleted, likening Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bihar government transfers 45 IAS officers in major bureaucratic reshuffle ahead of state polls

PATNA: Ahead of Bihar Assembly polls due this year, the state government has transferred 45 IAS officers, including several district magistrates (DMs), in a major shake-up. Thirty-one officers of the Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) were also transferred as a part of the rejig, according to an order issued by the General Administration Department on Saturday. Besides, the state government also made new appointments in the Mahadalit Commission and the Scheduled Caste Commission. Patna DM Chandrasekhar Singh, an IAS officer of the 2010 batch, was appointed Commissioner of the Patna division. Gaya DM Thyagarajan S M of the 2011 batch was made the new DM of Patna, the order stated. Mayank Warwade, the previous Commissioner of the Patna division, was made the State Project Director of the Bihar Education Project Council. Darbhanga DM Rajeev Raushan was appointed the Commissioner of the Saran division, while Avneesh Kumar Singh was made the Commissioner of Munger division, and Raj Kumar the Commissioner of Tirhut division, it said. Thirteen IAS officers of the 2010 batch were promoted to the secretary rank. The Bihar government appointed Vishwanath Rishi as chairperson of the Mahadalit Commission, and Devendra Kumar as vice-chairperson of the SC Commission.

BJP Workers, Hindu Groups Protest After Darbhanga Deputy Mayor Compares RSS To Pakistan

CPIML-Liberation eyes expansion in north Bihar, aims to contest 40 seats in 2025 polls

NEW DELHI: With Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) negotiating seat-sharing talks for the Bihar Assembly elections, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPIML-Liberation) is preparing to contest at least 40 seats. Riding on its strong performance in 2020, winning 12 out of the 19 seats it contested, the partys general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya is looking to expand its influence in more districts across north and northwest Bihar. Confident of improving its tally in the forthcoming contest, he said that the party has been working on the ground, representing the aspirations and demands of the people of the state. Last time, we contested 19 seats and won 12. The Congress, by contrast, got 70 and got 19. So, this is a general perception that wherever CPIML contests, that actually improves the performance of the entire coalition in that area Our strike rate is high. In that area, where we are, you'll find that the Congress, RJD have also done better. So, this is the general perception, I guess, that CPIML should get more seats this time, said Bhattacharya. Currently, CPIML-Liberations strength is concentrated in 12 districts, mostly in south Bihar, with limited presence in regions such as Mithila and Champaran. Bhattacharya said the party aims to broaden its reach across Bihar, particularly in areas it did not contest previously. We are prepared but maybe there are some 40-odd seats where we think that we can even contest. We would like to spread the net wide. Maybe south Bihar and even in north Bihar. For example, Mithila region, last time we didn't contest a single seat in Darbhanga and Madhubani. We only contested two seats in Samastipur. Even in, let's say, Champaran, we contested only one seat. I think we need more seats there. May not be that much in East Bihar, the Left party leader added. The Mahagathbandhan, which includes the RJD, Congress, and other Left parties, fell just short of a majority in the last election with 110 out of 243 seats. The return of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) to the alliance adds another layer to the ongoing seat-sharing discussions, with at least three rounds of talks already held. Bhattacharya expects a final agreement within two months. The elections in the state are scheduled for later this year. On the theme of campaigning in the state, Bhattacharya said that failed governance, crime and unemployment are going to be at the core of the upcoming elections. This time around, it should be a decisive kind of mandate There will be some kind of a definitely common campaign and common programme The agenda for Bihar elections is quite given. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had talked about development, good governance. But whatever he said, I think now the ground reality is just the opposite. Acute poverty, massive unemployment, massive out-migration, the education and the healthcare system is in a complete mess, he said.

Bihar court sentences BJP MLA to 2 years in jail over criminal intimidation case

A Bihar court in Darbhanga has sentenced BJP MLA Mishri Lal Yadav and his aide to two years in prison in connection with a 2019 criminal intimidation case. The court found them guilty of assault and cash snatching, imposing a fine of Rs one lakh each, with an additional month's imprisonment for non-payment.

High alert in Bihar after 15 to 20 drones spotted entering from Nepal, hovering for 40 minutes

PATNA: A high alert was sounded by Bihar police in districts along the India-Nepal border on Tuesday, after 15 to 20 drones were sighted entering Indian airspace from Nepal on Monday night. The drones hovered for about 40 minutes in areas under the Kamla Border Outpost (BoP) in Madhubani district before returning to Nepal. Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Deputy Commandant Vivek Ojha confirmed that 1520 drone-like equipment were sighted moving in the sky in areas falling under Kamla border police outpost at around 7.30 pm on Monday. They returned to Nepal after moving from west-east direction. The equipment entered Indian airspace and returned towards northern Nepal. Ojha further added that SSB personnel deployed at the Janki Nagar BoP spotted the equipment as they returned to Nepal. The SSB officials immediately alerted their seniors, who, in turn, passed on the message to officials at Darbhanga Air Force and Delhi Air Force stations, he said. Following this, the authorities declared a high alert along the international border. The SSB also made inquiries with security officials from Nepal regarding any routine flying drone exercises, but they reportedly denied conducting any such activity. The exact nature and purpose of the drones remain under investigation, Deputy Commandant Ojha told this reporter over the phone. Rakesh Kumar, Station House Officer (SHO) of Galgalia police station, said an intensive checking operation had been launched in the border areas. Strict vigil is being maintained and people coming from Nepal are being frisked for security reasons, the SHO said, adding that dog squads and scanning machines had been pressed into service. He further noted that instructions had been issued to patrolling personnel to conduct thorough checks of vehicles entering Indian territory from Nepal. Patrolling along the India-Nepal border has been intensified after Operation Sindoor, he said. Police personnel in plain clothes have also been deployed to keep a tab on the movement of suspicious persons. The 48th Battalion of the SSB has been deployed in Madhubani district, which shares its border with Nepal. Vivek Ojha serves as the Deputy Commandant of the battalion. Meanwhile, Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) has convened a meeting of all Inspectors General (IGs) and Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) at the police headquarters to review law and order ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The meeting is considered significant in the wake of a sudden rise in crime across the state.

Congress postpones Rahul's visit to Nalanda in Bihar after district admin denies permission

PATNA: Nalanda, home district of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, has suddenly become a favourite destination for opposition leaders to launch programmes ahead of assembly elections due in October-November. However, several hurdles have come their way. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to visit Rajgir in Nalanda district on May 27, but permission was reportedly not granted for the venue by the district administration, which stated that the hall (venue) was not vacant on the date. Rahul was to address a party sponsored Extremely Backward Castes (EBC) conference at Rajgir. The district administrations refusal to grant permission for the meeting has come as a rude shock for the state Congress leaders, who worked hard to decide the venue of the programme. We had applied to the district administration to book the hall where we wanted to hold our programme. Preparations were underway for the programme, but we were taken aback when we got letter of denial from the district administration, said a senior Congress leader. He said the partys outreach programme has been postponed and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit in first week of June. The party is finalising a fresh date of the programme in the wake of denial of permission for the venue, the leader said, requesting anonymity. The party leaders must have selected Rajgir as venue of the programme as chief minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar has assiduously cultivated the constituency of EBCs to improve his electoral clout in the state. Both Nalanda and EBC have special places in Nitishs heart. This is the second time that the Congress has been denied permission to hold its programme in the state. Earlier, the permission to hold a programme with students of SC/ST, OBC and EBC at Ambedkar Welfare Hostel in Darbhanga was denied on May 15. As Rahul defied the district administrations directive, he was booked for violating the order and a case was registered against him and other party leaders. Former Congress president, however, said that the cases were decorative medals for him. Earlier, Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishors programme to launch his signature campaign to take feedback from residents of Kalyanbigha village (native place of Nitish) in Nalanda district failed as the district administration refused permission to him. Kishor later addressed a public meeting in Biharsharif, the district headquarters of Nalanda. It will not surprise anybody if RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav also travels to Nalanda to launch a blistering attack on his chacha Nitish before the assembly polls due in October-November.

ABVP protests Rahul Gandhis surprise visit to DUSU, likens it to rejected actor crashing a student play

Rahul Gandhi's unscheduled visit to Delhi University's student union office created controversy. ABVP protested, calling it a political stunt. University officials stated they were not informed. NSUI defended the visit, citing the president's right to host guests. This incident has intensified divisions between student groups. Similar event occurred in Darbhanga earlier this year.

Bihar BJP MLA Mishri Lal Yadav arrested, jailed in connection with 2019 assault case

PATNA: BJPs Alinagar MLA Mishri Lal Yadav on Thursday was taken into custody and subsequently sent to jail in connection with an assault case of 2019 in Bihars Darbhanga district. The court had earlier sentenced him to three-month imprisonment for voluntarily causing hurt to one Umesh Mishra in January 2019. Suman Kumar Diwakar, additional district and sessions judge of Special MP/MLA court, Darbhanga, ordered to take the MLA into custody when he deposed before the court. MLA Yadav had filed an appeal against the verdict of the court awarding him three-month jail and a fine of Rs 500. The court had found MLA Yadav and another accused Suresh Yadav guilty in the case. Talking to media persons in the court premises, MLA Yadav said that he had appealed against the order of the MP/MLA court, which has listed the case for hearing on Thursday. When I deposed, the court took me into custody for 24 hours. I have to abide by the order of the court and go to jail, he said. He, however, described the action against him as out of political vendetta. On February 23, the special judge-cum-additional chief judicial magistrate Karuna Nidhi Prasad Arya of Special MP/MLA court in Darbhanga held MLA Mishri Lal Yadav and Suresh Yadav guilty and awarded them three-month jail. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 500 each. The two accused were found guilty under section 323 of IPC (voluntarily causing hurt). The case relates to attack and voluntary causing hurt to one Umesh Mishra, a resident of Samaila village, on January 29, 2019. The complaint against the accused was lodged in the concerned police station on January 30, 2019. The complainant Umesh Mishra alleged that he was attacked by the MLA and his associate when he had gone for morning walk on the fateful day. The chargesheet was filed in the court on October 12, 2019. The court took cognisance of the case on April 17, 2020.

Would have expelled Vijay Shah for life had he been in my party: LJP(RV) chief Chirag Paswan

PATNA: Assailing Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for his remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi , Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan here on Monday said that had Shah been in his party, he would have expelled him for life. In response to a media query, Chirag said that the entire nation is proud of the Indian Army for their successful implementation of Operation Sindoor after the terror attack on tourists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. Had such a person (Shah) been in my party, he would have been expelled for life for his such a demeaning remark against the Army officer, he asserted. Chirags LJP(RV) is an ally of BJP led NDA both in the state and at the Centre. Minister Shah stirred up a controversy after he called Colonel Sofiya, who briefed the media about the Operation Sindoor against the terrorists, as sister of terrorists. SC rejects MP minister Vijay Shah's apology on Col Sofiya Qureshi, orders SIT probe The Hajipur MP said that the entire nation felt ashamed of Shah's remarks on Operation Sindoor. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has taken a strong exception of Shahs statement. However, BJP is yet to take any disciplinary action against the party leader. Chirag called on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at 1 Anne Marg residence to discuss development of the state ahead of assembly elections. Talking to media persons on the sidelines of inauguration of two-day International Buyer Seller Meet, Chirag said that there is no vacancy for chief ministers post in Bihar as incumbent CM Nitish Kumar will lead the NDA even after the 2025 assembly elections. Assembly elections in the state are slated to be held in October-November. Chirag made this remark while talking to media persons in Darbhanga after calling on chief minister earlier at his 1 Anne Marg residence in the state capital. He also shared a photo with Nitish on his social media account. During the meeting, which last for about half an hour, the two leaders discussed about states development and NDAs strategy for the upcoming assembly elections. The meeting with JD(U) supremo two days after executive committee meeting of LJP(RV) assumed significance as assembly elections are due later this year.