News Analysis India

Tag: Patna

  • Amit Shah to address public meeting in Bihar’s Paliganj today

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to address a public meeting with people belonging to Other Backward Caste (OBC) and Economically Backward Class (EBC) at Paliganj near Patna in Patliputra Lok Sabha Constituency on Saturday ahead of the Lok Sabha 2024 election.

    Amit Shah’s Bihar visit today is his first after the formation of the new government in January 2024 with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    Shah’s public meeting in Paliganj near Patna will motivate BJP in five Lok Sabha seats including Patliputra, Arrah, Patna Sahib, Jahanabad and Hajipur.The public meeting of the Home Minister is organised by Bihar BJP OBC Morcha and all preparations have been completed by the party workers for the grand success of the meeting.

    Bihar BJP OBC Morcha General Secretary Sanjeev Kumar Chaurasia told ANI, “We are fully prepared to greet the Hon’ble Home Minister Amit Shah Ji. Thousands of people will be present in Paliganj to listen to the Home Minister. Amit Shah ji is a source of inspiration for all of us. Under his guidance, the party is continuously moving ahead.”

    “It is a matter of pride for all of us that the Home Minister will guide us today before the Lok Sabha election and we are very much sure that NDA will win all 40 seats in Bihar to strengthen Prime Minister Narendra for a third term”, he addedMukesh Kumar Patel also General secretary of Bihar BJP OBC Morcha said, “The OBCs of Bihar realise that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done much welfare work for the backward society. This has never been done by any previous government in the history of independent India hence we would like to congratulate Home Minister Amit Shah. We will seek guidance from him to ensure a big victory for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.”During one day Bihar visit, Amit Shar will unveil the statue of veteran BJP Leader Kailashpati Mishra at ICAR Building premises, Jagdev Path, Patna.

    Earlier on Friday Amit Shah held a late-night meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to discuss seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

    The meeting took place at Shah’s residence here in the national capital. At around 12:45 am, Maharashtra CM Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar were seen leaving Shah’s residence after the meeting.

    The meeting on seat-sharing within the Mahayuti Alliance in Maharashtra began at around 7:00 pm.

    The Mahayuti Alliance includes the Bharatiya Janata Party, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Nationalist Congress Party-Ajit Pawar faction. BJP National President JP Nadda along with the party’s state president Praful Patel were also present in the meeting.

    Deliberation on the seat-sharing formula within the alliance in Maharashtra was made, sources said.

  • Bihar Politics: JD(U) MLA lodges FIR against party colleague over ‘horse trading’ – The Economic Times Video

    Patna, Bihar: JDU MLA Sudhanshu Shekhar says, “I am loyal towards my leader…I have given all the details in the FIR… I am under no pressure… I got a huge offer… I was offered a ministry and Rs. 5 crore… I received a call through the Internet. They wanted to meet me but I did not give them time…”

  • BJP slams Bihar govt after leader allegedly dies in police lathi charge, doctors say no external injury

    Express News Service

    PATNA: A 40-year-old BJP leader died after allegedly sustaining injuries on his head when police on Thursday resorted to a lathi charge at Dakbunglow roundabout in the state capital to stop a march to the assembly by party leaders and workers.

    Angered over the death of BJP leader Vijay Kumar Singh, Jehanabad district general secretary of the BJP, the state BJP president Samrat Choudhary said that his party would file a murder case against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

    “We will continue our agitation against the state government. We have given a call for a Vidhan Sabha march on Friday to protest the police lathicharge,” BJP chief Choudhary said, criticising the grand alliance government for police atrocities and highhandedness.

    On the other hand, Patna’s senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajiv Mishra said that Singh was found in an unconscious condition in Chhajubagh locality. He was rushed to the PMCH for treatment.

    The SSP said that CCTV cameras were being verified to ascertain the truth. “We can’t confirm the reason behind Singh’s death at this stage,” he told media persons.

    Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) superintendent Dr I S Thakur said that Singh was alive when he was brought to the hospital and he was admitted to the ICU and put on a ventilator. Singh’s life could not be saved even though doctors made their best efforts to save him, he said.

    He said that no external injury was found on him and the exact reason behind his death would be known only after the post-mortem examination. “We have informed the family about the incident,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Proudly earthy and rustic: Bihari food is one of India’s underrated culinary traditions

    Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha said that BJP leaders and workers would march to Raj Bhawan on Friday in protest against the death of the party leader.

    Earlier, former deputy chief minister and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted confirming the death of the party functionary in the police lathicharge. Police carried out a lathi charge, used water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells on BJP leaders and workers when they were advancing towards the assembly against the rescinding of the domicile policy in recruitment of school teachers and in support of various demands.

    BJP leaders and workers started their march from the historic Gandhi Maidan but they were intercepted at Dakbunglow roundabout as a huge contingent of security personnel stopped them from advancing to the assembly.

    BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal sustained injuries on his head in the police action. Several party workers were also injured when the police, apparently without exercising any restraint, used force to stop them.

    Later, police personnel also put up barricades to stop party leaders and workers from advancing further. State BJP Samrat Choudhary along with other senior party leaders including former minister Nitin Nabin squatted on dharna at the site. Choudhary alleged that the Nitish government ‘butchered’ democracy by beating up BJP leaders and workers during their protest.

    Reacting sharply to the lathi charge, BJP president JP Nadda tweeted, “The lathicharge on BJP workers in Patna is the result of the failure and indignation of the state government. The Grand Alliance government is attacking democracy to save the citadel of corruption. To save the person who has been chargesheeted, the Chief Minister of Bihar has even forgotten his morality.”

    Former deputy chief minister and BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi said that democracy was in danger as the state government took such a harsh measure to stop the march being taken out by party leaders and workers.

    PATNA: A 40-year-old BJP leader died after allegedly sustaining injuries on his head when police on Thursday resorted to a lathi charge at Dakbunglow roundabout in the state capital to stop a march to the assembly by party leaders and workers.

    Angered over the death of BJP leader Vijay Kumar Singh, Jehanabad district general secretary of the BJP, the state BJP president Samrat Choudhary said that his party would file a murder case against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

    “We will continue our agitation against the state government. We have given a call for a Vidhan Sabha march on Friday to protest the police lathicharge,” BJP chief Choudhary said, criticising the grand alliance government for police atrocities and highhandedness.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    On the other hand, Patna’s senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajiv Mishra said that Singh was found in an unconscious condition in Chhajubagh locality. He was rushed to the PMCH for treatment.

    The SSP said that CCTV cameras were being verified to ascertain the truth. “We can’t confirm the reason behind Singh’s death at this stage,” he told media persons.

    Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) superintendent Dr I S Thakur said that Singh was alive when he was brought to the hospital and he was admitted to the ICU and put on a ventilator. Singh’s life could not be saved even though doctors made their best efforts to save him, he said.

    He said that no external injury was found on him and the exact reason behind his death would be known only after the post-mortem examination. “We have informed the family about the incident,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Proudly earthy and rustic: Bihari food is one of India’s underrated culinary traditions

    Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Vijay Kumar Sinha said that BJP leaders and workers would march to Raj Bhawan on Friday in protest against the death of the party leader.

    Earlier, former deputy chief minister and Rajya Sabha member Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted confirming the death of the party functionary in the police lathicharge. Police carried out a lathi charge, used water cannons and lobbed tear gas shells on BJP leaders and workers when they were advancing towards the assembly against the rescinding of the domicile policy in recruitment of school teachers and in support of various demands.

    BJP leaders and workers started their march from the historic Gandhi Maidan but they were intercepted at Dakbunglow roundabout as a huge contingent of security personnel stopped them from advancing to the assembly.

    BJP MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal sustained injuries on his head in the police action. Several party workers were also injured when the police, apparently without exercising any restraint, used force to stop them.

    Later, police personnel also put up barricades to stop party leaders and workers from advancing further. State BJP Samrat Choudhary along with other senior party leaders including former minister Nitin Nabin squatted on dharna at the site. Choudhary alleged that the Nitish government ‘butchered’ democracy by beating up BJP leaders and workers during their protest.

    Reacting sharply to the lathi charge, BJP president JP Nadda tweeted, “The lathicharge on BJP workers in Patna is the result of the failure and indignation of the state government. The Grand Alliance government is attacking democracy to save the citadel of corruption. To save the person who has been chargesheeted, the Chief Minister of Bihar has even forgotten his morality.”

    Former deputy chief minister and BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi said that democracy was in danger as the state government took such a harsh measure to stop the march being taken out by party leaders and workers.

  • Bihar: Notification to free don-turned-politician creates a rift in Mahagathbandhan  

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Bihar government’s move to release former MP Anand Mohan has led to a crack in the state’s ruling Grand Alliance (GA) or Mahagathbandhan. 

    The notification was issued on Monday to free Anand Mohan, who was serving a sentence in the then Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah murder case.

    While RJD, JD(U) and HAM, three major constituents of GA, supported the government’s decision, CPI-ML opposed it describing it as an act of discrimination.

    “Our men booked under TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention)Act are still behind the bar. On the other hand, 27 prisoners convicted for serious crimes are being set free after tweaking Bihar Prison Manual 2012,” said Kunal, office secretary of CPI-ML.

    All CPI-ML MLAs will stage a dharna on April 28 as a mark of protest. CPI-ML is a part of the seven-party GA in Bihar. It has, however, not joined the government led by Nitish Kumar.

    On the other hand, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari hailed the government’s move and said that the former MP was being released as per the rule. “There is nothing wrong in it. I don’t know why there is a hue and cry over his release,” he said.

    Defending the government JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said, “Let it be clarified that the amendment has been done in Prison Manual. It is not to benefit any individual. Half of the prisoners, whose names figured in the list, were over 75 years of age and one of them is about 95 year-old.”

    Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the release of 27 convicted prisoners would create fear and psychosis among people. Toeing similar lines, former BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said that those being released from jail were ‘booth grabbers’ of RJD.

    PATNA: Bihar government’s move to release former MP Anand Mohan has led to a crack in the state’s ruling Grand Alliance (GA) or Mahagathbandhan. 

    The notification was issued on Monday to free Anand Mohan, who was serving a sentence in the then Gopalganj district magistrate G Krishnaiah murder case.

    While RJD, JD(U) and HAM, three major constituents of GA, supported the government’s decision, CPI-ML opposed it describing it as an act of discrimination.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Our men booked under TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention)Act are still behind the bar. On the other hand, 27 prisoners convicted for serious crimes are being set free after tweaking Bihar Prison Manual 2012,” said Kunal, office secretary of CPI-ML.

    All CPI-ML MLAs will stage a dharna on April 28 as a mark of protest. CPI-ML is a part of the seven-party GA in Bihar. It has, however, not joined the government led by Nitish Kumar.

    On the other hand, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari hailed the government’s move and said that the former MP was being released as per the rule. “There is nothing wrong in it. I don’t know why there is a hue and cry over his release,” he said.

    Defending the government JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said, “Let it be clarified that the amendment has been done in Prison Manual. It is not to benefit any individual. Half of the prisoners, whose names figured in the list, were over 75 years of age and one of them is about 95 year-old.”

    Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the release of 27 convicted prisoners would create fear and psychosis among people. Toeing similar lines, former BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said that those being released from jail were ‘booth grabbers’ of RJD.

  • PM Modi to visit Patna, Jharkhand on July 12, to attend Bihar Assembly centenary celebrations

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Patna and Deoghar in Jharkhand on July 12 to attend various scheduled programmes. 

    Modi will reach Deoghar to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for various development projects worth more than Rs 16,000 crores. Official sources here said that PM Modi will lay the foundation stone in Deoghar of projects that will significantly boost infrastructure development, enhance connectivity and give an impetus to ease of living in the region.

    The most important part of the PM’s visit to Deoghar is to inaugurate the Deoghar Airport, which has been built to provide direct air connectivity to Baba Baidyanath Dham from other parts of the country. The Deoghar Airport has been constructed at an estimated cost of around Rs 400 crore with the capacity to handle over five lakhs passengers annually through its terminals. Deoghar is famous for the temple of Baba Baidhnath-one of the sacred Jyotirlingas of the country, where a sea of devotees descend to offer ‘Gangajal” during the holy month of Sharawan of Hindu calendar.

    Official sources said that the development of Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar was sanctioned under the “PRASAD” Scheme of the Ministry of Tourism. The projects being inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the development of two large pilgrimage congregation halls with a capacity of 2000 pilgrims each; Jalsar lake front development; Shivganga Pond development among others.

    Side by side, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple road projects, worth more than Rs. 10,000 crores. “The projects that are being inaugurated include six laning of Gorhar to Barwada section of NH-2; widening of Rajganj-Chas up to West Bengal border section of NH-32 among others.

    The major projects whose foundation stones are being laid include four laning of Mirzachowki- Farakka section of NH-80; four laning of Hariharganj to Parwa More section of NH-98; four laning of Palma to Gumla section of NH-23; an elevated corridor of Kutchery Chowk to Piska More section of NH-75 among others.” said official sources. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundationstone of various energy infrastructure projects around Rs. 3000 crore for the region.

    The PM will also dedicate the two railway projects in Jharekhand-Godda-Hansadiah electrified section and the Garwaha-Mahuria doubling project to the nation.

    He will also lay the foundation stone for three Railway projects like the redevelopment of Ranchi railway station; Jasidih bypass line and the LHB Coach Maintenance Depot at Godda. The proposed redeveloped Ranchi station will have world-class passenger amenities including a food court, executive lounge, cafeteria and air-conditioned waiting halls for ensuring ease of movement as well as the comfort of the passengers.

    Apart from all these, the PM will also dedicate the In-Patient Department and Operation Theatre services at AIIMS to the nation. He will perform worship at Baba Baidhnath temple –which is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga of the country.

    After Deoghar, the PM will reach Patna to attend the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Bihar Legislative Assembly.

    In Patna, he will address the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Bihar Legislative Assembly and inaugurate the Shatabadi Smriti Stambh, which has been built to commemorate 100 years of Bihar Vidhan Sabha. He will also lay the foundation stone of Vidhan Sabha museum with a  conference hall with a sitting capacity of more than 250 persons. The PM will also lay the foundation stone of Vidhan Sabha guest house on the occasion in Patna. CM Nitish Kumar and other dignitaries will receive him and accompany to the venue.

  • BJP MLA Vijay Bihari and two others accused of abduction of 25-year-old girl from Patna

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vijay Bihari and his wife have been accused of abduction of a 25-year-old girl from Patna. Bihari, however, said that his nephew and the girl were in love for long and they wanted to marry against the wishes of their parents.

    The girl’s mother, a resident of Bhootnath Road, lodged an FIR with Agamkuan police station in Patna alleging that her daughter had been kidnapped by the MLA, his wife Chanchala Singh and nephew Rajiv Singh. Her attempts to trace her, however, proved futile.

    The incident took place when the victim had gone to appear at her examination at College of Commerce on February 9. She suspected foulplay when she didn’t return home till 3 pm. Later she received a message on her mobile asking to contact on a particular phone.

    “When I called on the phone, other person on the phone line was the MLA from Lauria Vinay Bihari, who rebuked me and told to go where ever I wished for. Later, he disconnected the phone line,” she said in her FIR.

    A police officer posted at Agamkuan police station said that three persons, Vinay Bihari, his wife Chanchala Singh and Rajiv Singh. They have been booked under sections 366 (kidnapping) and 120 (B) (conspiracy) of IPC.

    When contacted, the MLA said that the girl’s parents were averse to the couple’s marriage so they eloped. “This is not abduction. This is a case of elopement for marriage,” he asserted.

  • Lalu Prasad Yadav to attend national council meeting of RJD in Patna on February 10

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is arriving in Patna to attend the national council meeting of the party to be held on February 10. Apart from Lalu, around 250 representatives from 26 states will also participate in the meeting to elect a new national president of the party and different wings of the organisation.

    RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said the RJD supremo is arriving in Patna from New Delhi on Wednesday and will participate in the national council meeting on Thursday.

    The national council meeting assumed significance in the wake of the recent announcement of Lalu Prasad in New Delhi that RJD would contest upcoming 24 vacant legislative council seats on its own.

    Lalu’s remarks, however, didn’t augur well in the circles of its old ally Congress. The Congress was hopeful of some seats to be offered to the party in the MLC election from local bodies. He also scotched off the rumours that he would hand over the charge of the party’s national president to his younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.

  • Six death, seven injured as boiler explosion in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur

    PATNA: At least six people were killed and five others were seriously injured after an explosion in the boiler unit of a noodle-making factory at Bela Industrial area in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district on Sunday.

    The injured have been rushed to the Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital for further treatment. Rescue teams have been pressed into service to remove the debris from the spot.

    The explosion was so powerful that its tremor was felt in a radius of two kilometers, locals said. On hearing the sound of the explosion, people from nearby industrial units rushed to the spot only to find at least many people lying in a pool of blood and some with serious injuries.

    Muzaffarpur district magistrate Pranav Kumar confirmed the death of five people in the incident. “Those injured in the incident have been admitted to the Sadar Hospital and the SKMCH for treatment,” he told TINE over a telephonic conversation. He admitted that some other buildings of nearby industrial units were also damaged due to the impact of the explosion.

    “Investigation is on to ascertain the cause of the explosion,” he said.

    Senior police and administrative officials have rushed to the site. The area has been condoned off as a precautionary measure and people are not allowed inside. The exact numbers of the injured and death are still not confirmed, Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police Jayant Kant said.

    An eye witness, Dharmendra Kumar, a resident of Manika village near Musahari, said that the blast was so powerful that he felt like an earthquake in the area. 

  • Taking second dose of COVID vaccine in Patna? You could win motorcycle, TV or mobile phone

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: If you take the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Patna between November 8 and 26, you have a chance to win a prize including a motorcycle, TV set or mobile phone through a lucky draw.

    The Patna district administration in association with CARE India has decided to organise the lucky draw to encourage people to come for the second dose of the vaccine. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Patna District Magistrate Dr Chandrasekhar Singh said that the winners of the lucky draw will be announced on November 28. A Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle or Honda Activa scooty will be the first prize, with LED TV sets as the second prize, mobile phones as the third prize and pressure cookers as the consolation prize for 100 winners. He said that a total of 120 winners would be awarded after they are administered the second dose of vaccine.

    Those desiring to participate in this lucky draw will have to register themselves as users in the COVIN/Aarogya Setu app with a minimum age of 18 producing valid documents.

    The Patna administration has also started boat-based mobile vaccination units to continue vaccinations in flooded areas. Patna district is ranked 9th in the all-India ranking in vaccination.

  • After Tejashwi’s support, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi calls for Paswan statue in Patna

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The Lok Janshakti Party (Chirag group) might be not in good political terms with the ruling BJP in Bihar after the last assembly elections but BJP’s one of the senior most leader and former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi came out in support of installation of statue of veteran leader and founder of LJP Ram Vilas Paswan.

    A day before Modi’s coming out in support of Paswan’s statue in Patna, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had demanded the installation of Paswan’s statue in Patna.

    This turn of support, albeit without naming Tejashwi Yadav for his demand on the same, Sushil Kumar Modi on Saturday took everyone in NDA by their suprise demanding statue of Ram Vilas Paswan in Patna.

    “Considering the contribution and big role played by Ram Vilas Paswan in the development and national politics of Bihar, his statue should be installed in Patna,” Modi said in a series of tweets from his official Twitter handle.

    Political experts in Patna were also surprised on the events as for the first time the junior Modi from Bihar has never ]directly or indirectly supported any statement on the demand of leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.

    Modi is considered the die hard opposed to Lalu Yadav’s family in Bihar politics.

    Modi went a step further from Tejashwi Yadav with the demand of State function on the birth anniversary of late Ram Vilas Paswan owing to Paswan’s struggle and continuous fight for the advancement of Dalits.

    “Paswan never did politics of hate and he was the main architect of NDA politics. He served the country under the successful government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi,” he said, adding that Bihar can never forget his contribution as Railway Minister also.

    He said that on the first anniversary of a leader like Paswan, people from all parties and sections should pay tribute to him. “There should be no politics on this,” he said obliquely, taking a jibe on Tejashwi Yadav recent few statements.

    Modi on the eve of Paswan’s first death anniversary said that Paswan after the lifting of emergency in 1977, had made a record of winning by the highest margin of votes.

    Modi’s statements have come at a time when Chirag Paswan, the son of late Ram Vilas Paswan, himself met all BJP leaders and invited them on the death anniversary on Sunday.

    CM Nitish Kumar has also been invited but whether he would go or not is still not confirmed. Chirag Paswan had sought time from Nitish Kumar, that was not given to him.

    Recently, Chirag Paswan also met RJD chief Lalu Prasad in Delhi and invited him.

    Lalu’s statements of assuring all supports to Chirag Paswan had sent the NDA leaders, especially the JDU MLAs, into a political tizzy.

    Now, Modi’s support for statue of Paswan in Patna has sparked a debate inside the NDA with a speculation about growing ideological and political differences between BJP and JDU.