Bihar minister’s shocker on Jamui molestation: ‘Isolated incidents do take place’
Shrawon Kumar’s remarks draw Opposition ire as JDU BIhar chief Umesh Kushwaha also invokes pre-2005 Bihar while defending the government response
A disturbing video showing a minor being molested on a road in Bihar's Jamui has sparked outrage on social media and drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition, while police are scrambling to identify and arrest those involved in the shameful act. Yet the gravity of the crime appears to have escaped a Bihar minister.
Responding to the Opposition’s charge that Bihar had slipped into Jungle Raj, Rural Development Minister Shrawon Kumar said such incidents were “isolated” and could happen.
“It can’t be denied that isolated incidents do take place. Crime hasn’t ended in the world,” he said. He assured that the government would conduct a detailed probe and take strict action against those responsible.
Kushwaha defends govt response
JDU Bihar chief Umesh Kushwaha struck a similar note while defending the state government's handling of the alleged harassment and molestation of two teenagers in Jamui. “Recall Bihar before 2005,” he said.
Also read | Jamui: Video of roadside harassment of girl and boy sparks outrage; SIT formed, 3 held
“The government is sensitive to any incident that occurs. The administration is looking into it. Recall the RJD rule, the time before 2005. Our government is sensitive towards all sporadic incidents that occur... The guilty will be caught by the police at the earliest,” Kushwaha was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
When NDTV questioned him about his remarks and those of his party colleague, he described them as a slip of the tongue. “Those involved in such incidents will face action. We have taken action in the past, and we will take action in the future,” he said.
Opposition slams Bihar govt
The video showed a group of men assaulting a boy and molesting his female friend. They also tried to pull the girl away from the boy. Both are Class 10 students who were returning from their coaching classes when the group confronted them.
The Opposition has seized on the incident, alleging that women are not safe in the state under Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary's rule.
"It's a very sad incident. We are ashamed, but the government has no shame or embarrassment. (Chief Minister) Samrat Chaudhary used to say that girls are roaming freely at night. But the reality is that girls are not safe in Bihar -- be it day or night," said Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.