The Bihar Legislative Council descended into chaos on Friday as Opposition members, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), unleashed a fierce protest over a viral video allegedly showing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar speaking during the national anthem at a public event in Patna the previous day. The uproar, which forced the Speaker to adjourn the session until 2 pm, has ignited a political firestorm, with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accusing Kumar of tarnishing Bihar’s pride and prompting calls for his resignation.

The drama unfolded as soon as the House convened, with Tejashwi Yadav raising the issue of Kumar’s purported disrespect toward the national anthem. Despite the Speaker’s plea to defer the matter to Zero Hour, Opposition lawmakers erupted in dissent, drowning out proceedings with slogans and demands for accountability.

State Minister Vijay Chaudhary attempted to clarify the government’s position, but the relentless clamour from RJD benches rendered the session unmanageable, leading to its abrupt suspension.

Outside the Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav delivered a blistering critique of the Chief Minister. “Nitish Kumar ji is a senior leader I respect, but his actions yesterday have shamed every Bihari,” he told reporters, referencing the March 20 incident.

“For a sitting Chief Minister to disrespect the national anthem—perhaps a first in India’s history—is unacceptable. He’s made us all hang our heads in shame.” The former Deputy CM’s remarks struck a nerve, amplifying the Opposition’s narrative of Kumar’s faltering leadership.

The outrage extended beyond Tejashwi, with former Chief Minister Rabri Devi joining the fray. “If Nitish Kumar has lost his senses, he should vacate the CM’s chair—maybe hand it to his son,” she quipped sharply to the press.

Leading a vociferous demonstration at the Legislative Council’s portico, Rabri Devi and RJD MLCs demanded a public apology, chanting slogans like “Puppet CM, resign!” and “India won’t forgive this insult to the national anthem.” The protest underscored the deepening rift between the ruling Janata Dal (United) and its RJD rivals.

Adding fuel to the fire, RJD MP Misa Bharti questioned Kumar’s fitness to govern, pointing to both his physical demeanour and recent controversies. “Watching him during the anthem, he didn’t seem mentally or physically sound,” she told ANI.

“I ask PM Modi and Amit Shah: Are you comfortable leaving Bihar in such hands? He insults women and children daily—this isn’t leadership.” Bharti’s comments hinted at broader political implications, suggesting the BJP-led central government might need to reassess its alliance with Kumar’s JDU.

The viral clip, widely circulated on social media, has thrust Kumar into an uncomfortable spotlight at a time when his government already faces criticism over governance and coalition tensions.

Earlier, Yadav, sharing the video of Kumar, said: “At least please do not insult the national anthem, Hon’ble Chief Minister. You insult youth, students, women and elderly people every day. Sometimes they clap on Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom day and mock his martyrdom, and sometimes they clap on the national anthem!”

The District Judge Court of Sambhal has issued a notice to Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, seeking his response or appearance on April 4, in connection with a complaint filed over his controversial remark that opposition parties were not merely fighting the BJP or RSS, but the “Indian state” itself.

Statement triggers legal action

The legal proceedings stem from a statement made by Rahul Gandhi on January 15, during the inauguration of the Congress party’s new headquarters ‘Indira Bhawan’. In his address, Gandhi said, “Our ideology, like the RSS ideology, is thousands of years old, and it has been fighting the RSS ideology for thousands of years. Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP or RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself.”

He also commented on the status of Indian institutions and media, suggesting that both were no longer functioning freely or fairly.

Revision petition leads to court summons

Advocate Sachin Goyal, representing complainant Simran Gupta, explained that a case was initially filed in the special MP/MLA court seeking registration of an FIR against Gandhi. However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) dismissed the plea citing lack of jurisdiction.

Following this, a revision petition was filed, after which the Sambhal District Judge accepted the complaint and issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi. The court has asked him to either appear in person or file a formal response on or before April 4.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) finds itself mired in yet another controversy as former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain faces fresh corruption allegations in connection with a Rs 571 crore CCTV installation project. The Delhi government’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a case against Jain, accusing him of taking a Rs 7 crore bribe to waive a Rs 16 crore penalty imposed due to project delays.

According to the ACB’s statement released on Wednesday, the case has been registered under Section 17 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The allegations stem from the installation of over one lakh CCTV cameras across Delhi’s 70 Assembly segments, with a second order of an additional 1.4 lakh cameras allegedly placed after the initial delay.

The case is reportedly based on the testimony of an official from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), who detailed alleged irregularities and “shoddy” installations. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi has criticized AAP, accusing the party of suppressing the investigation when it was in power.

BJP Attacks AAP Over Corruption Allegations

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva has slammed AAP over the fresh charges against Jain. He alleged that the tender for the Rs 571 crore project was awarded to BEL, and Jain took a Rs 7 crore bribe to waive off financial penalties. “BJP had complained then also… but AAP tried to suppress the investigation. No matter how much you tried to hide corruption, you have to answer now,” Sachdeva stated.

Neither AAP nor Satyendar Jain has responded to the allegations yet.

More Legal Trouble for AAP Leaders

This fresh case adds to the mounting legal troubles for top AAP leaders. Satyendar Jain, who was granted bail in October last year after spending two years in custody in a money laundering case, is also facing prosecution in a disproportionate assets case.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia are also battling corruption charges. Kejriwal has been accused of misusing public funds for promotional posters, while Sisodia is embroiled in an alleged Rs 2,000 crore scam linked to classroom construction in Delhi government schools. Jain is also named in this case.

The controversial Delhi liquor excise policy scam also remains under investigation. Last month, a Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) report stated that the state suffered a Rs 2,002 crore loss due to policy irregularities.

AAP Denies Charges, Calls It a Political Vendetta

AAP has dismissed all allegations, claiming they are politically motivated and orchestrated by the BJP to tarnish its image. The party has also denied accusations that Kejriwal misused Rs 45 crore of taxpayers’ money for renovating his official residence.

Despite its denials, AAP suffered a massive defeat in the recent Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP secured 48 of the 70 seats, marking a significant power shift in the capital after nearly three decades.