Samrat Choudhary’s ‘No Apraadh in Bihar’ Remark Sparks Political Storm as Tejashwi Yadav Hits Back

Samrat Choudhary’s Statement Triggers Political Controversy

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has come under sharp criticism from the Opposition after making a controversial statement about crime in the state during an official event in New Delhi on November 3. His remarks, in which he appeared to distinguish between the English word “crime” and the Hindi word “apraadh”, quickly attracted political attention and sparked debate on social media.

Speaking at an event organised by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Choudhary said that the concept of apraadh had effectively ended in Bihar, adding that crimes might occur but there were no criminals in the state. The statement was widely interpreted as a verbal contradiction because both terms carry essentially the same meaning.

Tejashwi Yadav Launches Attack on the Chief Minister

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) working president and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, criticised the Chief Minister over the remarks.

Sharing a video clip of Choudhary's speech on social media platform X, Yadav questioned the logic behind the distinction between “crime” and “apraadh”. He also asked whether IAS and IPS officers present on the stage felt honoured or humiliated while working under the Chief Minister.

Yadav further attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the decision to appoint Choudhary as Bihar's Chief Minister. In his post, he also referred to a criminal case from the 1990s involving allegations against Choudhary.

Choudhary has maintained that he was falsely implicated in the case. The allegations raised by the Opposition should not be treated as established findings of guilt.

Chirag Paswan Backs Samrat Choudhary’s Crime-Control Approach

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan was also asked about the Chief Minister's statement. He avoided directly commenting on the political controversy but expressed confidence in Choudhary's approach to crime control.

Paswan said that Choudhary, who holds both the Chief Minister and Home portfolios, would have facts and figures to support his claims. He also expressed his desire to see Bihar become a crime-free state and an attractive destination for investors.

Law and Order Remains a Major Political Issue in Bihar

The controversy comes amid continuing political disagreements between the ruling BJP-led NDA government and the RJD over law and order in Bihar.

The government has maintained that stricter policing and the use of technology have helped improve crime control. The Opposition, however, continues to question the administration's performance and highlights incidents of violence and alleged police excesses.

Choudhary's remarks have now given the Opposition another opportunity to question the government's claims. The debate is likely to continue as the ruling alliance and opposition parties seek to establish their positions on law and order and governance in Bihar.

Political Significance

The controversy highlights how statements by senior political leaders can quickly become the centre of public and political debate. While the Chief Minister's remarks were intended to project improvements in crime control, the Opposition has used the wording to question the government's credibility.

The key issue for the Bihar government will be to support its claims on law and order with transparent crime statistics, effective policing and public confidence.