On Saturday, J.P. Nadda, president of the BJP and Union Health Minister, emphasized the role of the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Central government, in guiding the state out of what he termed the “darkness” of the “jungle raj” associated with former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad.

Speaking at a Bihar Divas event organized by the Delhi BJP’s Purvanchal Morcha, Nadda praised Bihar for its unique “aura and dynamism,” noting that the state has historically contributed to democracy and produced esteemed educational institutions like Nalanda and Vikramshila.

He highlighted the continued academic achievements of Bihar’s students and professors at institutions such as Delhi University, reinforcing the state’s legacy of educational excellence.

Reflecting on Bihar’s past, Nadda pointed out that during the 1970s, the state was on an upward trajectory but experienced decline during Lalu Prasad’s governance in the 1990s, which he referred to as “doobta Bihara.”

He expressed that safety in Patna had significantly deteriorated, mentioning incidents of forced vehicle removals from dealerships for weddings and the exodus of healthcare professionals from the state. He also took a jab at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed the absence of “jungle raj,” arguing that such opinions lacked historical context from those who weren’t alive during that period.

Nadda commended the efforts of the Delhi BJP and the Purvanchal Morcha in securing a recent assembly election victory and urged them to extend their campaigning efforts to Bihar ahead of the upcoming state elections.

Celebrating the progress achieved under the NDA and Modi government, Nadda shared that Bihar’s rural road network has expanded from just 384 kilometers in 2005 to over 112,000 kilometers today.

He also mentioned the establishment of prestigious institutions in Bihar, including the Indian Institute of Technology and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, announcing that Patna Medical College is set to become the largest hospital in Asia.

Former UP Shia Waqf Board chief Jitendra Narayan Tyagi (formerly Wasim Rizvi) has approached the Supreme Court seeking the clubbing of multiple criminal cases filed against him in Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir for alleged hate speeches and derogatory remarks against Islam and the Muslim community.

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta on Friday issued notices to the governments of Uttarakhand and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, asking for a reply within four weeks.

Tyagi, who is facing at least four separate cases, including FIRs and private complaints, has requested that all proceedings be consolidated at a single location, citing grave security threats if he is forced to travel, especially to Jammu & Kashmir. In his plea, he stated that he has only two security guards despite “serious life threats” and that “appearing before the courts in J&K could be fatal.”

During the hearing, Tyagi’s lawyer Anurag Kishore sought interim protection from the court, citing life threats. However, the bench declined the request, remarking that “threats exist everywhere.”

Initially hesitant, the court agreed to examine the plea and issue formal notices to the respective state authorities.

Background of the cases

Tyagi is currently facing multiple criminal proceedings:

An FIR in Haridwar for allegedly making defamatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad during the release of his book Muhammad in June 2021.

A private complaint in Srinagar, J&K, over alleged insulting remarks against Islam made in a July 2021 TV broadcast from Lucknow.

An FIR in Haridwar from December 2021 for statements made at the Dharma Sansad, a religious event.

A third FIR in January 2022 also in Uttarakhand, based on similar allegations.

Tyagi, who converted from Islam to Hinduism, has been a controversial figure and has previously made inflammatory remarks, triggering legal and public backlash.

His legal team, comprising Anurag Kishore, Lakhan Kumar Mishra, and Ritika Shrivastava, argued that the multiplicity of cases and summons across different states poses not only a logistical burden but also a serious threat to his safety.

A fresh controversy erupted in the Delhi Assembly on Friday after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta referred to Delhi police personnel as “thulla” during a speech, drawing sharp criticism from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The opposition party accused the BJP of hypocrisy, claiming its leaders had previously condemned similar language used by others.

During a discussion in the Assembly, Gupta narrated an incident about a theft at a ration shop, criticizing police response time. “The police arrived late, just like Punjab’s police. Do thulle (two cops) stood here, two there, surrounding the area,” she said. The term “thulla,” considered a derogatory slang for police in North India, immediately drew attention.

AAP swiftly shared a video clip of the remarks on social media, questioning the lack of backlash. “BJP’s CM called policemen ‘thulla’ today, yet the Speaker didn’t object. Had another leader said this, the BJP would have created a nationwide uproar,” the party stated.

AAP leaders highlighted the contrast in reactions, recalling when Delhi’s former CM Arvind Kejriwal faced criticism for using the same term in 2023. “Back then, the BJP demanded apologies and filed cases. Today, silence,” said AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj.

He also accused the BJP government of supporting corruption and those involved in it. “Ongoing corruption cases against officials were being addressed in the committees and courts of the Delhi Assembly, but the BJP government halted those proceedings.”

Additionally, while there were cases against the Chief Secretary and several officials regarding the cessation of pensions for elderly individuals and widows in Delhi, the BJP government chose to terminate those cases, he said.

Earlier in the day, former Delhi CM Atishi accused the BJP-led central government of failing to deliver on welfare promises. “PM Modi pledged ₹2,500 for Delhi’s women by March 8. When we questioned this in the Assembly, AAP MLAs were expelled,” she told reporters. Atishi also mocked the BJP’s focus on renaming areas like Mustafabad instead of addressing economic concerns.