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Bihar's Political Turmoil: CM Samrat Chaudhary Faces Internal Criticism Over Activist's Death
The tragic death of social activist Bharat Bhushan Tiwari has ignited a firestorm within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with several high-profile leaders voicing their discontent. Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari emphasized that alternative actions could have prevented the incident, suggesting that Tiwari's life might have been saved. National Secretary Rituraj Sinha echoed these sentiments, calling the circumstances surrounding Tiwari's death heartbreaking and urging that law enforcement should never resort to violence, stating,
“rakshak bhakshak kabhi na bane.”He has also called for a judicial inquiry, which the Bihar government has since initiated.
Former Union Minister Ashwini Choubey visited Tiwari's family and demanded accountability, asserting that the police acted inappropriately, especially since Tiwari had surrendered. Choubey stressed the need for a thorough investigation and sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, declaring Tiwari's death a result of a "fake encounter." He lamented,
“Extremely heartbreaking… I am anguished by this hair-raising incident that brings shame to democracy.”The public outcry has prompted the state government to launch an independent inquiry led by a retired high court judge.
A senior BJP leader revealed that the chief minister faced intense pressure due to the backlash, not only from opposition parties but also from within his own ranks. Leaders like Rituraj Sinha and Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha have called for stringent actions against the police involved. The leader stated, “If the party and government’s own people start raising questions about the government’s functioning, it reflects poorly on everyone.”
In response to the outcry, Additional Director General of Police Sudhanshu Kumar confirmed that a case has been registered and a probe is underway. The police's conflicting accounts regarding the incident have raised eyebrows, as the Bhojpur police initially reported that Tiwari was mentally unstable before later claiming he was brandishing a weapon and firing shots. An unverified video circulating on social media allegedly shows Tiwari surrendering, further complicating the narrative.
As the BJP grapples with internal dissent, opposition parties including the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress have intensified their criticism of the government. RJD leaders have met with Tiwari's family, pledging legal and financial support. Meanwhile, the Jan Suraaj Party has staged protests in Patna, demanding a thorough investigation into the alleged police encounter, adding to the mounting pressure on the state government.
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