Lakhendra Paswan urges Chirag Paswan to visit Bihar to see ground realities

‘He should better visit Bihar’: Minister takes a dig at Chirak Paswan over his remarks against State govt. Patna, 30 September 2026 – Bihar’s senior minister and BJP stalwart Lakhendra Paswan struck a sharp tone on Thursday after Union minister Chirag Paswan criticised the state’s record on crimes against women. Speaking at a press conference in Patna, the minister dismissed the central leader’s comments as “misguided” and urged him “to come and see the ground realities” before passing judgement..

“If you truly care about women’s safety, you should better visit Bihar and talk to the police, the families and the survivors, not just tweet from Delhi,” Lakhendra said, a line that quickly went viral on social media. Paswan’s rebuke came on the heels of Chirag Paswan’s recent interview with a national news channel, where he claimed that Bihar’s law‑and‑order machinery was “failing” and that the state’s high profile rape cases were evidence of an “administrative apathy”. The younger Paswan, who heads the newly‑formed National Youth Front, said the “politics of silence” surrounding gender‑based violence was eroding public confidence in the government..

His remarks sparked a flurry of reactions from opposition parties, civil‑society groups and the ruling coalition in Patna. The state’s ruling coalition, an NDA‑led alliance of the BJP, Janata Dal (United) and smaller regional outfits, responded with a unified front. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, speaking later in the day, reiterated that Bihar had recorded a 15 % decline in women‑related crimes over the past year, citing the introduction of fast‑track courts and a statewide helpline that has logged over 1.2 million calls..

“We are constantly upgrading our security infrastructure, from CCTV in public spaces to police patrolling on bicycles in remote villages,” Kumar said, adding that the government would not be swayed by “political point‑scoring”. Analysts note that the spat underscores a broader tension between the central leadership of the BJP and its state allies. While the party’s national narrative pushes a “zero tolerance” stance on gender violence, many state governments argue that the data is more nuanced and that the focus should be on capacity building rather than blame‑games..

Dr Ananya Singh, a political scientist at Patna University, observed, “The central figure’s criticism appears to be a strategic move to keep the issue on the national agenda, but it also risks alienating allies who feel their on‑ground efforts are being undermined.” Civil‑society organisations have welcomed the heightened attention on women’s safety, though they caution against politicisation. The Bihar Women’s Rights Forum released a statement urging both leaders to “channel their energies into concrete action” rather than “public theatrics”. The group highlighted the need for more robust victim‑support services, including legal aid, counseling and rehabilitation, arguing that these measures are often “overshadowed by headline‑grabbing statements”..

In the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Women’s Welfare, the issue was raised during a recent meeting, where several MPs questioned the efficacy of the state’s “one‑stop” complaint centres. While the committee praised Bihar’s increase in FIRs (First Information Reports) for gender‑based crimes, it also called for an independent audit of the investigative process. “Transparency is key,” said committee member MP Ramesh Patel, “and any state that truly wants to improve must invite scrutiny, not deflection.” Meanwhile, the police department in Bihar disclosed that it had deployed an additional 2,000 officers to districts with the highest incidence of crimes against women..

A new mobile app, “Suraksha Bihar”, launched last month, now boasts over 3.5 million downloads and offers real‑time alerts, location‑based assistance and a direct link to emergency responders. Police chief Vijay Kumar claimed that the app has already helped “prevent at least 45 potential assaults” since its rollout, though independent verification of these figures remains pending. The debate also revived discussions around the controversial “Women’s Protection Act” that the state passed in 2024, which introduced stricter bail conditions for alleged perpetrators and mandated gender‑sensitivity training for law‑enforcement personnel..

Critics of the law argue that it could lead to misuse and that the focus should shift to victim‑centred approaches. Supporters, however, contend that it sends a strong deterrent signal and aligns Bihar with other progressive states. In New Delhi, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Amit Shah, weighed in via a televised address, emphasizing that “the safety of women is a matter of national priority”..

He pledged additional central funds for the “Women’s Safety Initiative”, a scheme aimed at equipping states with modern forensic labs and victim‑support infrastructure. Shah’s remarks were interpreted by some as an implicit endorsement of Chirag Paswan’s criticism, though the minister stopped short of directly naming Bihar. Social media reaction to Lakhendra Paswan’s retort was swift, with the hashtag #VisitBihar trending across platforms..

Supporters of the state government praised his “defiant stance”, while opponents accused him of “deflecting from genuine concerns”. Twitter user @BiharWatcher wrote, “A minister telling a colleague to ‘see the ground reality’ is one thing, but it must be backed by data, not just slogans.” The online discourse reflected the polarized nature of the debate, with many calling for an evidence‑based approach. The episode arrives at a politically sensitive time, as the BJP prepares for the upcoming state assembly elections scheduled for early 2027..