
JDU minority cell leader quits party over Nitish Kumar’s stand on CAA
The simmering discontent in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United over the party’s support to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) claimed its first casualty on Friday when the party’s minority cell general secretary Khawaja Shahid resigned from the party.
Shahid, who was the general secretary of the party’s minority cell, is the first leader to exit from the party over the amended citizenship law.
The resignation comes days after chief minister Nitish Kumar attempted to allay fears that the new citizenship law would be used against minorities and even “guaranteed” that minorities didn’t need to worry as long as he was around. Later he also indicated that he wouldn’t support the citizens register in Bihar.
The amended citizenship law lets the government to grant citizenship to minorities of six religions from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Many of the law’s critics, including the ones in Nitish Kumar’s party, have called the law “unconstitutional and discriminatory”. Poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who is also the JDU vice president, had earlier underscored how the citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens project could turn into a lethal combo.
As Khawaja Shahid walked out of the JDU, he also joined the chorus.
Nitish Kumar was his target.
“The decision of chief minister Nitish Kumar was against the party’s constitution which supported secularism. I am peeved at his decision to support the Act,” said Shahid, who hails from Katihar district.
He also declared that his exit would be followed by resignations of many other active members of the party.
JDU leaders, including party spokesperson refused to comment on the development.
It is still not clear if Khawaja Shahid’s exit is a one-off case.
Prashant Kishor was the first in the JDU to speak out against the law much before the Rajya Sabha had voted for the change. But he was soon supported by the party’s national spokesperson Pawan Varma and member of legislative council Gulam Rasool Balyawi.
Some JDU MLAs from the Seemanchal region had also raised their voice against the party’s support to the Act. “For us people are more important than party and we’ll fight against the draconian Act (CAA) and NRC” Kochadhaman JD-U MLA Mujahid Alkam said at a public meeting.
JDU lawmaker from Thakurganj Naushad Alam appreciated Nitish Kumar’s statement that the NRC would not be enforced in Bihar but underlined: “Here people have started demanding a clear stand from chief minister on CAA.”

State health min says Bihar 'almost' fulfils WHO's doctor-population ratio

Bihar panchayat officials accused of withdrawing ₹70 lakh without doing work
- A BJP leader has urged chief minister Nitish Kumar to ensure that the money meant for welfare scheme is spent for its purpose.

Bihar: Evaluation of intermediate exam papers begin
- Copy evaluation for Matric examination conducted by Bihar state education board will begin on March 12 and conclude on March 24.

No new Covid-19 cases at Bihar’s NMCH, classes stalled, exams put on hold
- After the death of a 2016-batch final-year MBBS student at the NMCH, Shubhendu Shubham (23), who had contracted the virus, the state health department had advised the medical college to get real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) test of all medicos done.

No city from Bihar in top 10 of Ease of Living Index, Patna climbs a notch
- Four cities from Bihar -- Patna, Biharsharif, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur, participated in the survey. Muzaffarpur was adjudged the lowest in the Ease of Living Index.

Bihar minister promises focus on teaching in mother tongue and learning outcomes
- The minister was replying to the debate on his department’s budgetary demand of ₹38,035 crore, which was passed by the Bihar Vidhan Sabha

Bihar Dy CM promises makeover of Hindu holy site at Simaria Ghat
- The deputy CM acknowledged the members’ sentiments and said he would strive to resolve the issues affecting the devotees and tourists

Bihar: Two women raped, two minors shot at in separate incidents

Phanishwar Nath Renu’s birth centenary: Call to turn village into tourist spot
- Nitish Kumar had got Renu Bhawan built in the village at a cost of ₹two crore but tourism infrastructure needs to be developed for customized tour packages, says Renu's son.

175 LJP functionaries join BJP; party disowns turncoats
- A senior LJP leader, who quit the party, said the LJP was reduced to a drawing room organisation where even old party workers didn’t have access to Chirag Paswan.

Fake power theft case against innocent villager raised in Bihar House
- The JD(U) MLC said that Gautam Kumar was suffering while the police officials were showing no urgency to submit the inquiry report, as the case was not lodged by them.

Bihar relies on village chowkidars to resolve land disputes early, reduce crime
- According to the National Crime Bureau Record (NCRB), in Bihar in 2019, there were 3,707 crime incidents related to land and property disputes, while the number of people killed were 5,227, or 3.1% per lakh

Darbhanga airport crosses 1 lakh passenger milestone within 4 months
- Spicejet, the lone airline with a license to fly from Darbhanga under UDAN, has again opened booking for Ahmedabad after having discontinued the direct Darbhanga-Ahmedabad flight on February 15.

Hotter summer forecast for Bihar with maximum temperatures rising in March-May
- The maximum temperature in Bihar till March 15 is likely to hover around 32°C to 34°C, which is 2°C to 4°C above the normal for the season. Similarly, the minimum temperature is also likely to range between 14°C to 16°C, around 2°C higher than the season’s normal.

Cong MLA gives 48-hr time to catch nephew’s killers; kin blame security removal
- Sasaram SP said he met the bereaved family and posted security guards at their house. Meanwhile, raids were being carried out to arrest the absconding accused.