India

New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) V.K. Saxena on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, stating that the people of Delhi have given a strong response to the former Chief Minister for his past remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing reporters on the Assembly premises, LG Saxena said, "There is no doubt that Arvind Kejriwal has made many negative remarks about the Prime Minister. He even said that if 'PM Modi wants to win the Delhi elections, he will have to take another birth.'"

"Whenever someone looks down upon another person or undermines them, the answer ultimately comes from the people," he added.

Recalling the time when AAP MLA Atishi was sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister, replacing Kejriwal, the LG remarked, "Kejriwal had said that Atishi has been made a 'temporary Chief Minister' and that he would return to the post later."

"I don't wish to say much about it, but the Supreme Court's order had already barred him from going to the Secretariat or signing any files. The people have now given their mandate, and I will leave it at that," he added.

Reiterating the BJP-led government's commitment to Delhi's development, Saxena stated, "Our agenda is clear -- we aim to develop Delhi, clean the Yamuna, resolve the landfill crisis, and provide better facilities for the poor."

Earlier in his address in the Assembly, Saxena emphasised the 'Viksit Delhi' manifesto as the guiding principle of the new administration, pledging to deliver a corruption-free government.

He affirmed that the administration would work in line with PM Modi's vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas, aur Sabka Samman."

He also criticised the previous AAP-led government for obstructing meaningful debates in the House and using the Assembly as a platform to attack constitutional authorities.

Following his address, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta tabled the CAG report in the House, leading to a discussion among legislators as part of the 'Vote of Thanks' on the LG's speech.

Meanwhile, the Assembly witnessed high drama as 21 AAP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Atishi, were suspended for unruly behaviour during the LG's address.

The ongoing three-day Delhi Assembly session, which commenced on Monday with the oath taking of newly-elected MLAs and the nomination of the House Speaker and Deputy Speaker, is set to conclude on Thursday.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 25 (IANS) Tamil actress and BJP leader Ranjana Nachiyaar on Tuesday announced her resignation from the party, citing its language policy and neglect of the state.

Nachiyaar, who was the state Secretary of the party’s arts and cultural wing, is expected to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the political party founded by Tamil superstar-turned-politician Vijay.

In her statement, Nachiyaar cited the BJP-led NDA Central government’s imposition of the controversial three-language policy and its perceived neglect of Tamil Nadu as the primary reasons for her quitting the party.

Expressing her deep disillusionment with the BJP's approach to regional issues, particularly language policy, she stated: "As a Tamil woman, I cannot accept the imposition of the three-language policy, the growing hostility towards Dravidians, and the ongoing neglect of Tamil Nadu’s needs and aspirations."

Nachiyaar, who had been associated with the BJP for over eight years, said that she initially joined the party believing in its patriotic values, commitment to nationalism, and devotion to divinity. However, she now feels that the party has taken a "narrow approach" to nationalism and disregards Tamil Nadu’s distinct identity.

She elaborated on her concerns in her resignation letter, stating that the BJP’s "centralising policies were eroding Tamil Nadu’s unique cultural fabric".

"The imposition of the three-language policy threatens the linguistic and cultural integrity of Tamil-speaking people. For me, Tamil Nadu’s prosperity is essential for the protection and progress of the entire nation. Unfortunately, the BJP’s policies, which marginalize Tamil Nadu’s voice, stand in stark contrast to this belief," she said.

Nachiyaar also expressed disappointment with the party’s treatment of women in politics, pointing out that while women’s political participation has historically been limited, the BJP has failed to nurture and empower women leaders.

Announcing her new political journey, she emphasised her commitment to women’s welfare, regional pride, and social justice. "I am stepping away from the BJP to chart my own course - a path where women’s progress, regional autonomy, and social justice take centre stage. This is my new mission, and it is a revolutionary journey toward victory."

--IANS

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Srinagar, Feb 25 (IANS) The National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) to launch a 6-month course on drone technology and a DGCA certified drone training centre, NIT spokesperson said on Tuesday.

NIT spokesperson said, “The six-month certificate course will focus on artificial intelligence and security in drone technology, offering an integrated curriculum designed to equip participants with advanced skills in these critical areas. The programme will combine theoretical knowledge and practical training to bridge the gap between academia and industry, enhancing the employability of students in the region. The signing ceremony took place in Srinagar in the presence of Tulika Pandey, Group Coordinator and Scientist-G of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Dr M.M. Tripathi, Director General of National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology (NIELIT) on Saturday.

The partnership will establish a six-month certification programme in drone technology and a joint DGCA-certified drone pilot training centre. This centre will provide industry-standard training compliant with DGCA guidelines, ensuring comprehensive and recognised certification for aspiring drone pilots, the spokesperson said.

A collaborative six-month certificate course on UAV/Drone technology, titled 'SwaYaan', will also be launched under MeitY's national 'Capacity Building for Human Resource Development in Unmanned Aircraft Systems/Drone and Related Technology' initiative.

SwaYaan aims to develop and strengthen India's UAS/Drone ecosystem.

NIT Registrar, Atikur Rehman said the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the institute will offer the six-month certification course for people across the globe to enrol and that electives will be available to B.Tech students from any discipline as an open elective.

"The course's industrial component will be integrated with student internships, further enhancing job opportunities for local youth. The future is with drones, so it is our responsibility to engage the youth with this leading technology”, the registrar said.

NIT Srinagar was established in 1960 as the Regional Engineering College (REC), Srinagar. The first chairman was Wajahat Habibullah IAS (2004–2014). It was one of the first eight Regional Engineering Colleges established by the Government of India during the first Five Year Plan.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 25 (IANS) After the Karnataka Lokayukta indicted Congress MP G. Kumar Naik, the retired IAS officer-turned-politician, in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam case, BJP's Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya has questioned whether Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will seek his resignation.

Taking to social media, Siroya stated, “I read in the papers today that the Lokayukta investigation report has said that the MUDA scam, involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s family, was due to the illegalities committed by G. Kumar Naik, the then deputy commissioner of Mysuru, and three other officers.”

“G. Kumar Naik quit the IAS suddenly before the LS polls in 2024 and is now a sitting Congress MP from Raichur in Karnataka. Can we read his Lok Sabha ticket as a huge compensation for the favours he delivered to the Congress leaders while in service? As an officer, has he committed other such illegalities like the MUDA scam, to receive big political favours from the Congress party? Was AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge aware of his integrity as an IAS officer? Is the State government machinery working overtime to throw officers under the bus to save the chief minister and his family? Will this become counterproductive? Is this not going to demoralise the state’s bureaucracy? Siroya raised questions.

"Now that Kumar Naik has retired from service, will he be penalised? Or has he become immune to action? Will Indian National Congress, Karnataka Congress unit and Rahul Gandhi, who speak of morality all the time, get Naik to resign as Raichur MP? Or will they brazen it out because they are great liberals who are working to ‘save’ Indian democracy? Siroya ridiculed.

“The investigation concludes that CM Siddaramaiah and family were absolutely innocent and had no role in the illegal allocation of 14 sites. If this is true, then it leads to a few obvious questions. I had tweeted about Kumar Naik earlier too: First and foremost this is an admission that the MUDA scam is real and not fictitious, as some Congressmen have tried to argue. This scam is nobody’s witch hunt but their own doing.”

“Did the officers act on their own or were they pressured to commit illegalities by their political masters is still an open question. It is difficult to believe that an IAS officer violates the law and creates fictitious records out of his own sweet will. He must have come under pressure, and in return, he must have sought protection and compensation,” Siroya charged.

“A CBI enquiry may have solved this mystery of political pressure on the officers. It may still not be late to seek one in the light of the Lokayukta report,” he stated.

Karnataka Lokayukta has given a clean chit to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (named as accused number one), his wife B.M. Parvathi (the second accused), and CM’s brother-in-law, Mallikarjunaswamy (the third accused). The probe has also given a clean chit to the fourth accused land owner, J. Devaraju.

Reacting to the charges, MP Kumar Naik stated on Tuesday that he has not seen the Lokayukta report yet. "Once the report is available the future course of action will be taken. During the time of alienation, the de-notification of the land was done. The rule says compensation for land is the land only. The rule won’t stipulate otherwise. When the application is filed for alienation, it is our duty to carry it out in 90 days’ time,” he stated.

Further responding to the Lokayukta report, MP Kumar Naik stated that the land was de-notified before it came under government acquisition. "We carried out the acquisition only after thorough verification," he said.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) HIV self-testing is proving to be a revolutionary tool in Mizoram’s fight against HIV/AIDS, offering a more private, convenient and effective means of diagnosis, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Mizoram has been dabbling with the problem of being the state with the highest HIV prevalence in India, with a significant portion of the affected population being young adults.

The primary modes of transmission have been identified as unprotected sex and intravenous drug use.

Despite awareness campaigns, many individuals remain hesitant to get tested, leading to delayed diagnoses and an increased risk of transmission.

“Hence, a new approach was necessary—one that could empower individuals to take control of their health without fear of stigma or logistical challenges. This is where HIV self-testing has proven to be a game-changer,” said the ministry.

HIV self-testing allows individuals to test themselves in the privacy of their homes using easy-to-use kits. These kits typically involve collecting a saliva or blood sample and obtaining results within minutes.

This approach has been successfully implemented in several countries, and its introduction in Mizoram has sparked hope in the fight against HIV.

“The success of HIV self-testing in Mizoram offers a valuable blueprint for other states facing similar challenges. If scaled up properly, HIVST can transform HIV prevention strategies across India, particularly in regions with high infection rates and limited healthcare access,” the ministry emphasised.

Tailored public awareness campaigns focusing on localized issues and breaking down stigma through targeted messaging can be effective.

Leveraging digital health solutions by integrating HIVST with mobile apps and telehealth services for counseling and follow-up support can improve accessibility.

Public-private partnerships can play a crucial role in expanding reach and availability by collaborating with private healthcare providers and NGOs, the ministry emphasised.

The Central government has been actively working to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic through various initiatives.

One of the most significant efforts is the National AIDS and STD Control Programme (NACP) Phase-V, a Central Sector Scheme fully funded by the government with an outlay of Rs 15,471.94 crore.

The programme extends the national AIDS and STD response till the Financial Year 2025-26 and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3.3, which aims to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report tabled in Delhi Assembly on Tuesday said that former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers allegedly caused a loss of over Rs 2,002 crore through their non-transparent excise policy, popularly known as “Liquorgate”.

Pointing to illegal decision-making to benefit some favoured licencees, the damning report said, “Actual implementation was sub-optimal and objectives behind the policy were not achieved. Vends in non-conforming wards could not be opened and equitable distribution of retail vends could not be achieved. Issue and management of zonal licences had major shortcomings.”

The document of the Central government's auditor that has exposed the liquor scam is named, 'Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi.'

The scam related to the now-scrapped excise policy was a key issue in the just-concluded Assembly Elections, with even Prime Minister Narendra Modi promising to expose the corrupt by announcing, “Jinhone loota hai, unhe lautana padega (The looters will have to pay back every penny)."

On Tuesday, the CAG report was table by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta amid thumping of desks by BJP legislators even as Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena promised to study the CAG findings and improve the system.

Earlier, corruption and money-laundering cases related to the now-withdrawn excise policy saw Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues – Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain – spend months behind bars, before getting bail from court.

The findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu also highlight the areas in which it failed to achieve its stated purposes.

These failed objectives included: Generate optimum revenue for government, eradicate sale of spurious liquor, simplify excise regime, counter formation of cartels, simplify duty and pricing policy and adequate spread of retail vends.

“Responsibility and accountability should be fixed for the lapses observed and the enforcement mechanism should be strengthened,” said Murmu in his final recommendation in the report for the year ended March 31, 2022. The report was also signed by Principal Accountant General (Audit), Delhi, Aman Deep Chatha.

Under the head of “Decisions taken without the approval of competent authority”, the CAG report included opening of liquor vends in conforming areas like residential areas or close to places of worship or schools.

The report also slammed the previous government for relaxation regarding coercive action against the licencees in case of default of payment of fee, waiver or reduction in licence fee, refund of earnest money deposit in case of Airport Zone and correction in formulae for calculating MRP in case of foreign liquor.

The CAG report also underlined the fact that a report of group of AAP ministers deviated from the recommendations by an expert committee for drafting a new excise policy.

One of the glaring lapses by the GoM was allowing one applicant to get allotment of up to 54 retail vends as compared to the expert panel’s suggestion that an individual may be allotted a maximum of two vends.

The CAG also flagged the provision in the now-scrapped excise policy to allow retail licencees to offer discounts to customers.

Another key finding was the non-setting up of labs to check the quality of liquor being supplied in Delhi, a lapse that exposed millions of city residents to health risks, said the CAG report.

The government auditor’s report tore into the AAP government’s policy-making and implementation, citing several instances of irregularities like – lack of transparency in pricing, violation in issue and renewal of licences, non-penalisation of violators, non-seeking of approval from LG, Cabinet or the Assembly.

The CAG report said the exchequer lost around Rs 890 crore as the AAP government did not re-tender the surrendered retail liquor licences.

The report noted, “There was lack of scrutiny of the business entities with regards to their financial wherewithal and management expertise. Instances of related business entities holding licenses across the liquor supply chain were noticed.”

“Liquor supply data indicates exclusivity arrangements between zonal licencees and wholesalers and Brand Pushing. Surrender of zonal licences during the extended policy period further led to substantial revenue loss. Other important measures which were planned in the policy, like setting up of laboratories and batch testing for quality assurance, setting up of super premium vends etc., were not implemented,” it said.

The government lost an additional Rs 941 crore due to the exemptions that had to be given to the zonal licencees, the report said.

The GoM, headed by Minister Manish Sisodia, allegedly did not act on the recommendation of the expert panel and even allowed disqualified entities to bid for licences.

--IANS

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Gurugram, Feb 25 (IANS) In a shocking incident, bullet-riddled bodies of a man and woman were found in a hotel room on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway on Tuesday, police said.

The deceased were identified as Komal (21), a resident of Shikohpur village in Gurugram, and Nikhil (23), a resident of Lokri village in the Pataudi area.

Preliminary investigation suggested that it could be a case of suicide.

Police received information about the bodies lying in a room of the hotel in Manesar and sent them for post-mortem.

An Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) of the Gurugram Police received information that Komal, who had gone to appear in an exam, did not return home till night.

Upon information, the ERV staff reached the spot, where the girl's family members were also present.

The ERV staff immediately informed Police Station Manesar about the incident. Meanwhile, the hotel staff said a man and a woman were staying in room number 303 on the second floor.

The ERV team and police station team, along with the hotel staff and the girl's family, found the girl and a boy lying dead on the bed inside a locked room number 303 of the hotel.

"They both had one bullet wound on their chest, and a country-made pistol 315 bore was also found in the room. The police team called the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team, dog squad and fingerprint experts to the spot," Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson for the Gurugram Police said.

"Prima facie it appears that this could be a case of suicide. To find out all the aspects related to the incident, the police team is collecting evidence and information related to the matter. A probe is underway," he said.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, Feb 25 (IANS) As the situation continued to be tense in the border areas of Karnataka and Maharashtra following the attack on the RTC bus conductor in Belagavi for allegedly not responding in Marathi, the family of the minor girl involved in the case on Tuesday announced that they have decided to withdraw the POCSO case.

The mother of the girl has also appealed to the people of Karnataka and Maharashtra states not to blow the incident out of proportion.

The mother in the video stated, “The incident had taken place when my son and daughter went to the hospital after getting a ticket. The conductor had used bad language. We love the Kannada language and speak Marathi at home.”

“We are concerned and saddened that the issue has snowballed into a crisis situation between two states and an issue of tussle over language. We apologise if we have made any mistake. Those who are involved in the assault have been jailed. The matter should end here. It was a scuffle over the ticket. We are withdrawing the case,” the mother stated.

Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin, reacting to the development stated in Belagavi that the Investigating Officer in the case has been changed and the case is handed over to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). “I got the video from the mother of the victim. I will ask the ACP to look into the matter, record the statement in this regard and proceed in the case further,” Iada Martin stated.

Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy stated in Bengaluru, “I had gone to Belagavi on Monday and met the conductor at the hospital. I have also discussed the matter with the officers. No RTC buses from Karnataka are going to Maharashtra and none of the buses are coming into Karnataka from Maharashtra. Private buses are operating. We had 509 schedules and Maharashtra buses had 130 schedules. The public is affected by it.”

“Barring the incident of one of the Maharashtra RTC buses painted black in Chitradurga, no such incident is reported from the state. However, in Maharashtra, Karnataka RTC buses are targeted and painted black. I have spoken to our Chief Secretary to discuss the matter with the authorities in Maharashtra. I have also briefed the matter to CM Siddaramaiah,” Minister Reddy stated.

Meanwhile, Kannada organisations staged a protest in Belagavi city condemning the incident. The police removed the Kannada activists from the road and took them to an undisclosed location in buses.

T.A. Narayana Gowda, the president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, urged that the Goonda Act must be slapped against those who attacked the conductor. “If the accused are found, we are capable of much more than what they did to the conductor. We don’t want to follow the Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti (MES),” he warned.

Praveen Kumar Shetty, the President of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Shetty Faction) stated that the POCSO has been lodged against the conductor due to the pressure of politicians.

Meanwhile, the conductor expressed happiness over the decision of the minor girl’s family to withdraw the POCSO case against him and stated that the case was lodged against him to make him withdraw his complaint.

Tension prevailed in the border district of Belagavi last Saturday following the assault on an RTC bus conductor by a group of people for asking them to speak in Kannada.

Kannada organisations staged a protest and blocked the Belagavi-Bagalkot road, demanding that the police take action against those who attacked the bus conductor.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS) A Delhi court on Tuesday awarded life sentence to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with the killing of a father-son duo in the Saraswati Vihar area on November 1, 1984, during the anti-Sikh riots.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja pronounced its decision on the quantum of the sentence after it had convicted Sajjan Kumar of murder charges on February 18.

This case is related to the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in the Saraswati Vihar area during the riots.

Earlier on January 31, the Rouse Avenue Court reserved its verdict after hearing additional submissions advanced by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat.

On the other hand, Advocate Anil Sharma had submitted that Sajjan Kumar's name was not there from the very beginning and there was a delay of 16 years in naming him as an accused by the witness.

It was also submitted that a case in which Sajjan Kumar was convicted by the Delhi High Court is pending appeal before the Supreme Court.

Additional Public Prosecutor Rawat, in rebuttal, had submitted that the accused was not known to the victim. When she became aware of who Sajjan Kumar was, she named him in her statement.

Earlier, senior advocate H.S. Phoolka, appearing for the riot victims, had argued that the police investigations were manipulated in the Sikh riots cases. Police investigation was tardy and to save the accused, he said.

It was also argued that during riots, the situation was extraordinary and therefore, these cases have to be dealt with in this context.

During the arguments, Phoolka referred to the judgement of the Delhi High Court and submitted that it was not an isolated case, it was a part of a bigger massacre.

It was further argued that as per official figures, 2,700 Sikhs were killed in Delhi in 1984. Senior advocate Phoolka had referred to the Delhi High Court judgement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case of Delhi Cantt wherein the court called the riots a "crime against humanity".

Initially, an FIR was registered at Punjabi Bagh police station. Later on, this case was probed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted on the recommendation of the Justice G.P. Mathur Committee and a charge sheet was filed.

The Justice Mathur committee had recommended the reopening of 114 cases. This case was one of them.

On December 16, 2021, the court framed charges against the accused Sajjan Kumar for the commission of the offences punishable under Sections 147, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well as the offences punishable under Sections 302, 308, 323, 395, 397, 427, 436, and 440 read with Section 149 IPC.

It has been alleged by the SIT that the accused was leading the said mob and upon his instigation and abetment, the mob had burnt alive the above two persons and had also damaged, destroyed, and looted their household articles and other property, burnt their house, and also inflicted severe injuries on the person of their family members and relatives residing in their house.

It is claimed that during the investigation, witnesses of the case were traced out, and examined, and their statements were recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC.

The statements of the complainant under the above provision were recorded on November 23, 2016, during the course of this further investigation, in which she again narrated the above incident of looting, arson and murders of her husband and son by the mob armed with deadly weapons and she is also claimed to have deposed therein about the injuries suffered by her and the other victims of the case, including her sister-in-law who is stated to have subsequently expired.

She had also clarified in that statement that the photograph of the accused was seen by her in a magazine after around one-and-a-half months.

--IANS

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Patna, Feb 25 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar on Tuesday sought votes for his father in the upcoming 2025 Assembly Elections.

"For 19 years, Bihar has seen development under my father's leadership. Even when JD-U won only 43 seats last time in 2020, he continued working for Bihar. This time, we need more seats to ensure his leadership continues for the progress and development of the state," he said.

"Nitish Kumar is an undisputed leader of the NDA in Bihar," he said, adding that his father will lead the alliance in upcoming polls.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ladla CM' remark, Nishant said, "There is an alliance, it is good for Bihar's future."

Nishant appealed to JD-U workers and asked them to go before people and tell them about CM Nitish's work over the last 19 years.

When asked about his entry into politics, Nishant responded: "The public will decide what happens next. Let them judge who is capable."

His response comes after RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav urged him to enter politics on Monday evening.

Speculation is growing that Nishant may contest the 2025 Bihar elections and play a bigger role in JD-U.

With Bihar heading for a crucial Assembly Election, CM Nitish's camp is mobilising support.

Remembering his mother Manju Kumari Sinha on her birth anniversary, Nishant said: "Wherever she is, she should be happy..."

Notably, the political battlefield in the state is heating up.

Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has been launching attacks against the Nitish government seeking a change.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad had attacked Prime Minister Modi after the latter visited Bhagalpur, claiming that the leader "lies" and "does not keep his promises".

Lalu attracted criticism from Union Ministers and NDA leaders for his remark who reminded him of the situation in Bihar during his tenure.

--IANS

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