On the occasion of Bihar Diwas 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conveyed their heartfelt greetings to the people of Bihar, celebrating the state’s historic legacy, cultural richness, and aspirations for a prosperous future.

In a post on X, PM Modi called Bihar the “holy land of heroes and great personalities,” paying tribute to its role in Indian history and cultural tradition. He also lauded the state’s ongoing development journey, attributing its progress to the hardworking and talented people of Bihar.

“We will leave no stone unturned for the all-round development of this state, which has been the centre of our culture and tradition,” the Prime Minister wrote.

Amit Shah hails Bihar’s leadership across history

Extending his wishes on Bihar Day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah acknowledged Bihar’s immense contributions to both ancient and modern India, describing it as a land of knowledge, tradition, and cultural heritage.

He praised Bihar’s role in providing leadership and energy to the country, and reiterated the NDA government’s commitment to Bihar’s progress, prosperity, and self-reliance under PM Modi’s leadership.

“Bihar has left its indelible mark in every field,” Shah noted in his message.

Nitish Kumar reaffirms commitment to Bihar’s development

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also marked the occasion with a message of unity and progress. He reflected on the state’s glorious past and urged citizens to be part of building a glorious future.

“We are currently preparing a glorious future for Bihar with our determination,” he stated, encouraging collective efforts for a developed Bihar.

Celebrating Bihar Diwas

Bihar Diwas is celebrated annually on March 22, marking the formation of the state in 1912. The day is a tribute to Bihar’s cultural legacy, historic influence, and the resilience of its people. Celebrations across the state included cultural programs, public events, and tributes to Bihar’s contribution to Indian society.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has sounded the alarm over the Centre’s proposed population-based delimitation of Lok Sabha seats, cautioning that it risks silencing South India’s political influence.

Speaking at the Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on delimitation in Chennai on Saturday, Reddy argued that such an exercise would disproportionately favour northern states, reducing southern ones to “secondary citizens.”

“If the BJP presses ahead with population-based delimitation, the north will dominate, and South India’s voice will be stifled. We won’t accept it,” Reddy declared, urging the Centre to freeze the current number of parliamentary constituencies.

He framed the issue as a “demographic penalty” inflicted on the South, which embraced family planning since 1971, unlike larger northern states that lagged behind. “South India has excelled—faster economic growth, higher GDP, better per capita income, more jobs, and superior welfare. Yet, we’re penalised,” he said.

Reddy highlighted stark disparities in tax returns to bolster his case. “For every ₹1 Tamil Nadu pays in tax, it gets back just 6 paise. Karnataka gets 16 paise, Telangana 42 paise, Kerala 49 paise. Compare that to Bihar, which gets ₹6.60, or Uttar Pradesh with ₹2.20. We’re one nation, and we respect that, but this delimitation threatens to politically hobble us,” he asserted.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, hosting the JAC meeting, announced that Hyderabad would stage the next round of talks. He hinted at a legal battle ahead, stressing, “We’re not against delimitation itself, but we demand fairness. Sustained action is crucial to safeguard our rights.” Stalin’s resolve underscored a growing regional consensus against what southern leaders see as an inequitable redraw of constituencies.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan echoed these concerns, likening the delimitation threat to a “sword of Damocles” dangling over the south. He accused the BJP-led Centre of forging ahead without consultation, amplifying fears of a north-south divide. As southern states rally, the debate promises to reshape India’s political landscape.

A delegation of five-member Supreme Court judges, led by Justice BR Gavai, offered a message of hope to communities ravaged by ethnic violence in Manipur on Saturday, assuring displaced residents that “peace will soon return” to the troubled state.

The visit, which included stops at relief camps and the virtual launch of legal and medical facilities, underscores a concerted effort to address the fallout from the sectarian clashes that erupted nearly two years ago.

Speaking to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Churachandpur district, Justice Gavai struck an optimistic tone. “We understand the hardships you’re enduring, but with collective support, this dark chapter will end swiftly. Trust in the Constitution—it will restore peacefully one day,” he said, addressing families uprooted by the violence that began on 3 May 2023. That conflict, pitting the Meitei community of Imphal Valley against the Kuki-Zo groups of the hills, has claimed over 250 lives and displaced more than 50,000 people.

The delegation’s itinerary included a poignant visit to relief camps in Churachandpur, where they oversaw the virtual opening of legal services camps, aid clinics, and temporary medical units from the district’s Mini Secretariat.

These initiatives, spearheaded by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), aim to link IDPs with essential government schemes—offering healthcare, and pensions, and help reconstructing lost identity documents. Essential supplies were also distributed to ease immediate hardships. Later, the judges are slated to visit another camp at Moirang College in Bishnupur district.

Notably, Justice N Kotiswar Singh, a Meitei and part of the team, skipped Churachandpur—a Kuki-majority area—following objections from a local lawyers’ group wary of ethnic tensions. An official confirmed he would instead head to Bishnupur. The All Manipur Bar Association has since appealed to its Churachandpur branch to reconsider this stance, highlighting the need for unity.

Justice Gavai, NALSA’s Executive Chairman, also launched legal and medical camps across all Manipur districts, alongside new aid clinics in Imphal East, Imphal West, and Ukhrul. A NALSA statement described the visit as a vital step in supporting communities still reeling from the 2023 violence, which left thousands in makeshift shelters.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh welcomed the judicial outreach but took a swipe at the central government. “It’s heartening to see Supreme Court judges in Manipur, where 60,000 remain displaced and hundreds have perished. Yet, why hasn’t the Prime Minister visited? Why was the President’s Rule delayed so long? These questions linger unanswered,” he remarked.

The judges’ mission continues on Sunday with an event at the High Court of Manipur, spotlighting ongoing efforts to heal a state scarred by division.