Tejashwi Yadav Alleges Minister Jibesh Kumar Assaulted Journalist, Demands FIR Ahead of PM Modi’s Purnea Visit

Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA and Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Monday accused Bihar’s Urban Development and Housing Minister Jibesh Kumar of assaulting and verbally abusing a journalist, demanding that an FIR be registered against him immediately.

Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Yadav displayed a purported video showing the minister shouting at and allegedly beating a journalist from a backward community. The incident reportedly occurred during the minister’s visit to his Jale constituency, when the journalist asked about the condition of local roads.

“He (Jibesh Kumar) has also been found guilty in a fake drug case. He has committed a serious crime while being a Minister, and I present the video before you. When the Minister was visiting his constituency, a journalist hailing from a backward community asked him a question about roads. The Minister beat him up and abused him,” Yadav said.

Yadav further questioned whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to visit Purnea today, or Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Deputy CMs are aware of the minister’s actions. “Before 2005, such questions used to be asked. The question was just about roads, not a lowly question. Does the Chief Minister, or Prime Minister, know? Does the journalist not have a mother and sister?” he added.

The RJD leader demanded accountability, asking, “Journalists should ask: will the minister have an FIR registered against him? Will he get punished? This is all evidence.” He accused the administration of suppressing action against ministers and questioned why no FIR has been filed.

“This is the BJP’s culture. I have never seen a minister give such abuses to a journalist, beating him up. What kind of administration is this? Is the law different for them? I would like to know from both Deputy CMs and even the PM, is the law the same or different? If it is the same, why is there no FIR?” Yadav asserted.

He also criticized the police, claiming collusion with ministers to allow corruption and abuse to continue unchecked. “Between the administration and ministers, an understanding has been made: you can keep taking bribes, doing wrong things, beating people, but you will not be caught. The police put poor people behind bars in the name of liquor, but themselves sell liquor while failing to investigate wrongdoing. If this is the situation for a journalist, imagine the plight of poor people,” he said.

The allegations come on the eve of PM Modi’s visit to Purnea, where he is set to launch the National Makhana Board and inaugurate the Interim Terminal Building at New Civil Enclave of Purnea Airport. Additionally, Modi will lay the foundation stone for development projects worth Rs 36,000 crore, including a 3×800 MW thermal power project at Pirpainti, Bhagalpur. This project, valued at Rs 25,000 crore, is designed on ultra-supercritical, low-emission technology and is expected to strengthen Bihar’s energy security with dedicated power supply.