Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary sparked a significant political controversy on Tuesday with a paradoxical statement regarding the state of law and order in the region. During an event in Delhi hosted by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Chief Minister asserted that while incidents of crime may occur in Bihar, the concept of ‘apraadh’ (the Hindi term for crime) has been effectively eradicated.
Addressing the gathering, Choudhary stated, “Hamare yahan koi apraadh nahi hai. Apraadh ka concept hi khatam ho chuka hai. Crime ho sakte hain, lekin apraadh nahi, koi apraadhi nahi hai.” Translated, he suggested that while isolated crimes might happen, there is an absence of systemic criminality or habitual offenders within the state. This semantic distinction between ‘crime’ and ‘apraadh’ appeared to leave many attendees, including government officials, seeking clarification on the Chief Minister's intended meaning.
The Opposition was quick to react to the comments. Tejashwi Yadav, the working president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, took to social media to criticise the Chief Minister. Sharing a video clip of the remarks, Yadav questioned the leadership of the state, asking if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had effectively given the Chief Minister a ‘supaari’ (contract) to destroy Bihar.
Yadav further escalated his criticism by focusing on the administrative implications of the statement. He expressed concerns regarding the state's bureaucracy, specifically questioning whether senior IAS and IPS officers felt honoured or humiliated while working under the leadership of a Chief Minister who makes such contradictory claims. He suggested that the officials present on the dais during the event likely found the comments bewildering.
In contrast to the Opposition's sharp rebuke, Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief, Chirag Paswan, chose to distance himself from the direct controversy surrounding the phrasing. When asked about the remarks, Paswan credited the Chief Minister with having a “clear vision on crime control.” He noted his belief that as the individual responsible for both the Chief Minister's office and the Home portfolio, Choudhary likely possesses the internal data and statistics necessary to support his assessment of the state's security environment.
The incident occurs amidst ongoing public discourse regarding safety in the state. Reports of violent incidents, such as a recent case involving an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) firing indiscriminately at villagers, have kept the issue of law and order at the forefront of Bihar's political agenda. The administration continues to grapple with these challenges while trying to manage public and political perception of their performance.
The exchange highlights the intensifying friction between the ruling administration and the Opposition in Bihar as both sides continue to trade barbs over governance and security. While the Chief Minister's remarks were intended to signal a successful crackdown on criminal elements, the ambiguity of his phrasing provided an opening for his political rivals to challenge the state government's narrative on law enforcement effectiveness.
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