"Criminals used to get protection, now they are punished": Nityanand Rai hits back over opposition criticism of law and order situation in Bihar

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 5 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has hit back at opposition parties in Bihar over their criticism of Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state concerning law and order situation and said there is no "panchayat justice" now and those who commit a crime face the full force of law.
In an interview with ANI, Nityanand Rai, who is MP from Ujiyarpur in Bihar, said that that criminals do not get protection in the state and there is no interference in investigations. He also talked of the development initiatives of the coalition government in Bihar which includes Janata Dal-United and BJP.
"Crime data is uploaded, NCRB uploads it after taking it from the states. Earlier (during RJD rule) criminals used to get protection, but now if a crime happens, there is proper investigation and the perpetrators are taken to court and punished. If an incident happens, there is also investigation into the lapses. Earlier, people used to go to ministers' houses...'panchayats' would be held. Was there development before? Were there roads? What about electricity, hospital facilities in their (RJD) time?" Nityanand Rai asked.
The NDA government, which takes "jungle raj" jibes at the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has faced mounting criticism from opposition criticism over law and order situation in the state.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav had in a post on X in April listed as many as 117 crime incidents, alleging that these had occurred in the last few days in the NDA government. He alleged that there is "collusion with criminals" in the ruling coalition.
RJD, Congress and other opposition parties in Bihar have also slammed the NDA government over the murder of businessman Gopal Khemka in Patna.
Speaking about the Rohingya issue, Nityanand Rai said they were "given protection" by certain people and parties before, but the Centre has taken steps that "no Rohingya enters the country".
Without naming any party, he said illegal immigration has been used by certain people to gain votes.
"I can't tell the total number (in Bihar) but I can definitely say that they are not coming in anymore. They have come in (earlier), have been given protection too. But now they don't have all that," he said.
Bihar will face assembly polls later this year. Political parties have geared up preparations for the elections. (ANI)