Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar’s Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, has called for immediate action against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and state minister Jibesh Kumar, accusing him of verbally abusing and physically assaulting a journalist in Darbhanga district. The incident, which has sparked widespread outrage, occurred recently when the journalist questioned Kumar about issues pertaining to his Jale constituency.

Addressing the media in Patna, Yadav condemned Kumar’s alleged actions, highlighting a video purportedly showing the minister hurling abuses, including derogatory remarks targeting the journalist’s family. “The journalist is someone’s son or brother. He was thrashed and abused by a minister for simply doing his job. I’ve never seen such behavior from a public official,” Yadav said. He demanded the immediate registration of an FIR against Kumar and urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to sack him from the cabinet or force his resignation.

Yadav also pointed to a recent Rajasthan court ruling that implicated Kumar, a director of a pharmaceutical company, in the production of spurious medicines. Although the Rajsamand court did not impose a prison sentence, it placed Kumar on probation, a verdict Yadav cited as further grounds for his removal from the cabinet. “Despite a court ruling against him, Kumar continues to hold a ministerial position. This is unacceptable,” he stated, questioning the state government’s commitment to justice and accountability.

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The RJD leader seized the opportunity to address Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting Bihar today, as well as the state’s deputy chief ministers, asking, “If the law is equal for everyone, why has no FIR been filed against Kumar for his actions?” He criticized the administration for its inaction, accusing it of shielding the minister due to political affiliations.

The incident has reignited debates about press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Bihar, with many condemning Kumar’s alleged conduct as an attack on democratic values. The lack of an FIR has further fueled public anger, with opposition leaders and media organizations demanding swift justice. As pressure mounts, all eyes are on the Nitish Kumar government to see how it responds to the allegations and whether it will take action against one of its own.

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