%20leader%20Nitish%20Kumar%20PTI.jpg?rect=0%2C0%2C620%2C349&w=480&auto=format%2Ccompress&fit=max)
'You're not stable physically or mentally...': Tejashwi Yadav slams Nitish Kumar for talking during national anthem
PATNA: Bihar chief minister and JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar stoked a fresh controversy when he was seen talking and greeting during the national anthem.
His ‘eccentric’ behaviour during the national anthem has raised doubts about his health condition once again. The incident happened during the inauguration of 'Speak Takraw World Cup 2025' organised on Patliputra Sports Complex in the state capital on Thursday.
The six-day event is being organised in Bihar for the first time in which 20 countries, including India, are taking part.
Leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav shared a video on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) showing Nitish ‘speaking and greeting’ during the national anthem. The video went viral on social media platforms, raising doubts about his health condition.
Tejashwi wrote on ‘X’, “You have been humiliating women, youth, students and the elderly every day. ‘Kam se kam Rashtra Gaan ka kripaya apmaan mat kariye (at least spare the national anthem).”
He also recalled the event when Nitish was spotted clapping during Mahata Gandhi’s death anniversary.
The viral video, veracity of which The New Indian Express doesn’t authenticate, shows Nitish Kumar telling something to former chief secretary Deepak Kumar who was standing beside him when the national anthem was being played.
Nitish also folded his hands while greeting people standing before him, causing embarrassment for the officials and ministers present on the occasion. Though Deepak Kumar tried to alert Nitish, he continued his eccentric behaviour in full public view.
Nitish then tried to touch the shoulder of Deepak Kumar, who is currently posted as principal secretary to the chief minister. Deepak Kumar again signalled the chief minister to stand straight as national anthem was being played. Instead, Nitish tried to speak something to Deepak Kumar, which he ignored.
When Deepak Kumar did not respond, the chief minister again started clapping and engaged himself with people standing before him. All this happened when people present on the occasion stood up respectfully for the national anthem.
The entire episode was captured on camera and a video went viral on social media, causing embarrassment to the chief minister himself, politicians and bureaucrats. This is not the first time Nitish's behavior has drawn criticism from both opposition leaders and the public.