RJD slams Nitish Kumar for talking during national anthem, puts up ‘Nayak nahi Khalnayak’ posters

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has launched a fresh attack on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after a viral video showed him talking during the national anthem at an event in Patna. On Saturday, RJD workers put up posters outside former CM Rabri Devi’s residence, calling Kumar a “Khalnayak” (villain). The posters accused him of disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi, women, and the national anthem. The incident took place at the 2025 Sepak Takraw World Cup inauguration in Patna on Thursday.

The video, widely shared on social media, shows Nitish Kumar tapping his Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar on the shoulder and engaging in a conversation while the national anthem played. He was also seen folding his hands and greeting someone in the audience. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticized him on social media, stating, “At least please do not insult the national anthem, Hon'ble Chief Minister. You insult youth, students, women, and elderly people every day.” He further accused Kumar of mocking Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom and claimed that the CM was “not mentally and physically stable even for a few seconds.”

Following the controversy, RJD announced statewide protests demanding a public apology from Nitish Kumar. Party workers stated that if the Chief Minister refuses to apologize, they will march to the Raj Bhavan on Sunday. Sanju Kohli, a former district councilor from Jehanabad, took responsibility for installing the posters, which read, “Ji Haan Main Hu Khalnayak” (Yes, I am the villain). The protests gained traction as party members accused Kumar of repeated instances of disrespect towards national symbols.

The political tension over the incident has escalated ahead of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled for October. The Election Commission is yet to announce the polling dates, but opposition parties are using the controversy to target the ruling coalition. In the Bihar Legislative Assembly, opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav and Rabri Devi, demanded Nitish Kumar’s resignation. The issue has triggered a sharp response from both the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance and the opposition RJD, leading to heated debates in the state’s political circles.

The controversy follows previous instances where Nitish Kumar was accused of similar behavior during solemn occasions. The BJP and JD(U) have yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Meanwhile, public protests and political rallies by opposition leaders continue as pressure mounts on the Chief Minister to address the allegations.