- 7/17/2025
In this episode of To The Point, the focus is on a shocking gang war inside a Patna hospital, where a murder convict out on parole was shot dead by five men.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching To The Point. I'm Preeti Chaudhary.
00:03Let's get on to our big debate this evening.
00:06And it comes in from the state of Bihar.
00:09And those were visuals which came in this morning of a shocking gang war in a Patna hospital
00:14that sent ripples through Bihar.
00:16Shooters caught on CCTV entering a ward armed and then fleeing after murder.
00:21The police calls it seasons of, a season of murders.
00:26India Today reports.
00:30Five armed gangsters enter a ward, murder a patient and escape.
00:48No, this is not a scene from Gangs of Vasipur, but the horrifying reality of Bihar in 2025.
00:55Captured on camera, the killers pulling out their guns, opening the door to the cabin,
01:09unloading their weapons and fleeing seconds later.
01:12They killed gangster Chandan Mishra, a hardened criminal with multiple murder charges,
01:22who was out on parole on medical grounds.
01:25But the police response has triggered even more outrage.
01:29Bihar's top cop claimed that this is the season for murders and crimes.
01:34Union Minister Jitin Ramajee, instead of questioning law enforcement, blamed the hospital for lack security.
02:00Bihar's top cop.
02:05Bihar's top cop.
02:05Bihar's top cop.
02:08For the opposition, the incident is proof of the Jungle Raj under CM Nitish Kumar.
02:38It has been a criminal disorder of law and order, and this is what ADG is saying.
02:45But what is this?
02:48That it increases in the monsoon and the rain?
02:51This is the first time we are listening.
02:54That is, the police is unworked.
02:57It is unworked.
02:59This is what we see, because the government has failed.
03:02The government has their own.
03:04Both of them are victims.
03:06There is no day like this, when there is a gang war.
03:11There is a private hospital.
03:14There is a big hospital.
03:16There is a security guard.
03:18However, there is a gang war.
03:23There is no rule in Bihar, in Hindustan, has the rules on the
03:35war?
03:35With Bihar now fully in pole season, this incident is a grim reminder of how crime infested the state remains, a formidable test for the incoming government.
03:48With Rohit Singh, Bureau Report, India Today.
03:51Now, in midst of all of this, in midst of what is clearly deteriorating law and order in the state of Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced free electricity for up to 125 units for all households from the 1st of August.
04:10He further added that within the next three years, with the consent of those households, solar power systems will also be installed, either on their rooftops or at nearby public spaces.
04:20This comes just days after Nitish government announced 35% quota for women in government jobs.
04:27The move is clearly being seen as aimed to strengthen the Chief Minister's appeal to women voters and the voters, especially in an atmosphere where the opposition is going to town calling the current law and order situation in Bihar the return of Jangal Raj.
04:46Let's quickly cut across to our guests this evening, Radhika Khera, National Spokesperson, BJP, Dr. Shama Mohammed, National Spokesperson, Congress, Amitabh Tiwari, political strategist with us.
04:59I want to begin with Mr. Tiwari, because Amitabh Tiwari, there's corruption, give them freebies, there's anti-incumbency, give them freebies, any inflation, give them freebies.
05:11The answer in politics now is a one-shot solution, which is whatever the problem is, which is leading to anti-incumbency, offer a slew of freebies and you might get by.
05:23Yes, now freebies are being used across all political parties as a tool to who the voters and we've seen this across parties and irrespective of whether the state is rich or poor.
05:38Freebies has not been defined yet by the Supreme Court, though the matter has been pending with the Supreme Court for some time.
05:45Let's say 125 units are free for all. I mean, this is a freebie for people who can afford, but people who are poor and who cannot afford, probably, this is not a freebie because this can be counted as a welfare scheme.
06:00Now, Bihar has the lowest per capita income across India, but surprisingly, neither it has a cash support income scheme, which are there in rich states like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
06:14Neither it had a freebie, neither it had a freebie, a scheme, which is there again in much richer states like Delhi, etc.
06:26That's why perhaps Nitish Kumar government under which is tackling now 20 years of anti-incumbency has gone ahead with a slew of measures and youth Mahila Garib are important cohorts in any election.
06:41They have already announced a tweak of the scheme with regards to the 35% reservation for women.
06:47For youth also, they have announced some sort of cash income support for students who have passed out of colleges.
06:54And now, for the poor, they have announced a freebijali scheme.
06:59Of course, these have an impact on elections and also these are being announced in the context that the Mahagadbandan also has announced similar units of, or rather higher units of, perhaps, freebies and a higher cash income support for women.
07:16So competitive populism, and that we've seen practically in every election, but do, for a minute, you know, where our viewers are concerned, stay on the graphics that we are actually showing you, we'll play it right back.
07:26On the cost of freebies, where it comes down to each state that has gone on to offer a slew of sops.
07:34You know, they might call it welfare schemes, but ultimately, this is sheer populism.
07:39And look at the weight of these freebies that these states have to bear.
07:45Right from Maharashtra, after the lovely Pahinyojana, from Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhara, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar.
07:51Look at Bihar. And, of course, then Delhi.
07:54But Radhika Khera, deteriorating law and order problem.
07:57The opposition is calling it return of the jungle, Raj.
08:00And it's a bit of an irony because this charge comes in from the RJD today.
08:05So, quick solution, offer us lower freebies.
08:09Good evening to everyone.
08:10The murder of a patient inside a Patna hospital is horrific, a condemnable crime.
08:15No civilized society should ever have to see bullets fired in a hospital corridor.
08:18But what is equally criminal is the fact that the opposition's attempt to cash in on a bloodshed.
08:24The Congress-RJD alliance that is now crying a law and order failure must answer
08:29that under the Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi regime, Bihar wasn't governed.
08:33It was gutted.
08:35859 people were killed in 118 massacres across Bihar.
08:40Entire Dalit families were slaughtered in Sinari, Lakshmanpur, Bathe, Shankar Biga,
08:44pregnant women, children.
08:45No one was spared, Preeti.
08:47And where were the FIRs settled?
08:49FIRs were settled in the Chief Minister's house.
08:51And don't take my word for it.
08:52Mr. Lalu Yadav's own brother-in-law, Subhash Yadav, admitted this on camera,
08:57that kidnapping deals were done in the CM residence and ransom was negotiated by Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav himself.
09:02This wasn't governance.
09:04It was a crime syndicate in power.
09:06And when Mr. Tejasvi Yadav, who was the Deputy CM in 2022,
09:10when there was an alliance with the RJD and Congress along with the JDU,
09:14what happened under their watch?
09:15Murders went up by 30%, rapes by 24%, kidnappings by 13%.
09:20And these are not my sources.
09:22These are by the NCRB November 2023 report.
09:25Now, what's that Jungle Raj 2.0 beta version?
09:27Or just a reminder of what happens every time the RJD and Congress have even a little bit of power in Bihar.
09:32And today when a patient is killed at Paris Hospital and they are trying to claim fall,
09:37and what even the police has gone on to say is absolutely condemnable and we do not agree with that.
09:43And we are not here to defend or give any excuses.
09:46We will ensure there is accountability and we will act.
09:48Let me also remind the Congress, Preeti, that you are the same party whose alliance partner,
09:52Tejasvi Yadav, called the media stinking and used abusive language when he was asked tough questions.
09:56You want to politicize crime but are silent when your own leader disrespects press and democracy.
10:01The NDA government has taken swift action in this case.
10:04FIIs are registered in a restaurant order.
10:05We will talk about the economics of it for the state of Bihar, but you did refer to the NCRB data.
10:10I have it with me right now.
10:11I am going to go across to Shama Mohammed.
10:13But before that, I will circle back to you and it is something to chew on.
10:17Bihar, nation-wise, holds the ignominy of being number two when it comes down to number two position in crimes across the country
10:25in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022.
10:30And that is number two in the country.
10:31You do not want to know the state which is number one.
10:33But who was governing?
10:36Maybe, you know, interrimently you had the RJD with you, but largely I would reckon that is your government in place there in these years.
10:42Just referring to the NCRB data that you were referring to.
10:45Yeah, which is why I specifically should not be talking to the other people.
10:47I will circle back to you.
10:48Allow me to bring in the Congress spokesperson into this conversation.
10:51Shama, Dr. Shama Mohammed, the fact is you might take on the RJD today,
10:57your ally is taking on the government and saying you are just copying us where it comes down to what you call welfare schemes.
11:02But ultimately, look at the chart, Dr. Shama Mohammed.
11:06The Congress very well understands the burden of what you call welfare schemes, a sheer populism.
11:12And the economy of the state is completely destroyed at the back of it.
11:16Something that I didn't say.
11:17Your own chief minister in Telangana, Rayvon Thready, has said it many times.
11:21Where he says, because of the schemes that they have on offer, Telangana is heading towards a financial mess.
11:28Can I just get, okay.
11:37And that's why we give them that they will stay protected.
11:42So he said,
11:43Nitesh Kumar's own words.
11:47Inside the assembly, we will never give electricity free.
11:51Okay, so that is first.
11:52Number two, when we promise something, we do it.
11:56Whether it's Telangana, Karnataka or the Himachal.
12:01Now let's look what happened in Maharashtra.
12:03Maharashtra, they promised and they, what happened after they came to power,
12:07they gave it before coming to power.
12:08They were giving the ladli behna.
12:10As soon as they came to power, they removed the beneficiaries.
12:12They gave it for few.
12:132,500 by the government, BJP government in BJP, promised in Delhi.
12:20After they came to power, a woman chief minister, nobody has got that 2,500.
12:25No women have got it till now.
12:27Nirmala Sitaraman, before the Bihar elections last time,
12:31promised free COVID vaccination to each and everyone.
12:35Again, promise not kept.
12:37Each and everyone did not get.
12:39So the issue here is, you promise something, you do not keep it.
12:42So we are sure that they will not keep it.
12:45One, I want to add to Amitabh's point is that the lowest tax base in this country is with Bihar.
12:51So they will not have the funds to give it.
12:54Now, when it comes to crime, she's comparing like, you know, there's been murders there.
13:00So there's competitive killings going to happen here.
13:02I mean, that's a shame.
13:04How shameful she talks about.
13:06My own colleague, Ajay Kumar, was the officer, police officer at that point of time
13:12when Lalu was the chief minister.
13:16And he himself told me, Lalu, send him to Jamshedpur to clean up the mess there.
13:20So it is a wrong notion that, you know, Lalu Yadav's time was complete jungle rush.
13:24There's a story being put across.
13:25But what we see right now is you saw Gopal Kemka, a businessman shot in Patna just next to the police station.
13:33You have these people, Gundas, getting into a hospital, a private hospital and killing.
13:38After that, the DGP, what does he say?
13:42He says that this is normal because in May and June, it happens.
13:45The farmers have no work and they go to kill.
13:48Can you imagine that you take away the responsibility from you and put it on innocent farmers who are so poor,
13:55they try to make a living.
13:56They're not saying that we will see to that these people are arrested.
14:00Manji again saying, you know, there is nothing we can do.
14:03These are gang wars.
14:04So gang wars can keep happening.
14:05They do not come under your, it does not come under you.
14:10I mean, what is happening in Bihar, the law and order is completely collapsed.
14:14Remember, around three weeks ago, a Dalit girl was raped.
14:19And forget law and order, she was raped.
14:21Of course, they couldn't find who it was.
14:23They got him later.
14:24Then she was taken to a hospital, Ames.
14:26And they denied her.
14:28She was taken to Patna Medical College.
14:29She was out in the ambulance for five hours.
14:32And later, the poor girl died.
14:34So there is collapse of everything.
14:36There is no rule of law.
14:38There is no safety for women.
14:41There is no empathy for people.
14:42All right, you know, I'll circle back to you.
14:44What do you think is happening there?
14:45I'll circle back to you because you said that every state that the Congress rules promised
14:51certain welfare schemes, like you pointed out, has delivered.
14:55But delivered at what cost is the question, Dr. Shama Mohammed.
14:58I'll circle back to you.
14:59We are managing the things that not at all.
15:00Ma'am, I'll give you some figures here.
15:02I will give you some figures here.
15:04At the back of the announcement, especially when it come down to pension in the state of
15:08Himachal today, the Himachal Bhawan continues to be facing a potential auction risk.
15:13Why?
15:13Because they haven't paid dues to the tune of 150 crores.
15:17Pending.
15:18Number one.
15:19Number two, your own Chief Minister, Revant Reddy, on multiple platforms has actually put
15:23his hands up and say we need to have a national consensus on how we need to move out of the
15:29culture of populism by offering these freebies because my state is burdened with them and
15:34I can't really keep up my promises for development because I'm paying these out.
15:39I'll come to you, ma'am.
15:39Allow me.
15:40I will just go back.
15:41Ma'am, I will.
15:42I'll give you that.
15:43I will give you that time.
15:44I will give you that time.
15:46Allow me to just circle back to you.
15:47I want to take a quick comment by Amitabh.
15:49But I need to answer the question.
15:50Ma'am, I'll ask you exactly the same question.
15:52One minute.
15:53Just mull over it.
15:54Ma'am, I will come back to you because I'm the same thing.
15:56I know the answer to it.
15:57Ma'am, I'll come back to you.
15:58Allow me to come back.
16:00Allow me to come back to you on this.
16:03I'll just bring in Amitabh Tiwari.
16:04Amitabh Tiwari, this is going to be powerful because before the model code of conduct sets in,
16:09this is just the first of the many announcements that we are bound to witness in the state of Bihar.
16:15Yes, so essentially there are two things now.
16:17One is that the government making an announcement of a freebie and one is a freebie promise in a manifesto.
16:24So I think the Supreme Court where the case is or the Election Commission of India
16:28should clearly say that when you are announcing a freebie in a manifesto,
16:34how many people are you going to give it to?
16:36Because this has become an issue in Delhi because you promised for all
16:39and then you have put in some conditions for the cash income support for women.
16:43What is the total cost?
16:44And how it is likely to be funded?
16:47Either borrowings or internal accruals.
16:48Now even when a government is announcing such a scheme, I think across political parties and state governments,
16:55this should become a norm because this is out of budget announcement.
16:59Because Bihar already has around 4.2% of the deficit.
17:03It is one of the few states which has a revenue surplus but this is going to make the state run into a budget deficit.
17:10And Bihar is not a rich state like Maharashtra which can absorb 2.2% of GSDP going in as freebies.
17:19Fair point.
17:19And moreover, and I'll bring in the BJP spokesperson on this,
17:24you've already sought a special bailout package from the government where Bihar is concerned.
17:29What are you spending it on, Ms. Skhera?
17:31I will come to that, Preeti, and I really need to answer to the Congress spokesperson.
17:36She came up with three things.
17:37She quoted Mr. Ajoy Kumar, the same man who does not know that Sikkim is a part of India.
17:42Well, if you want to go by him, to help.
17:45God help you.
17:46God save the Congress.
17:47Secondly, she talked about Delhi.
17:49Ma'am, we've been in power for 147 days.
17:51Your national alliance partner, the Kejriwal government, dried up the coffers of Delhi.
17:57Delhi went into minus for the first time in 32 years.
18:01First, there was a deficit.
18:02So we are getting Delhi back on track, and Delhi is changing.
18:05You've never lived in Delhi.
18:06You've just been here for a year and a half, so you don't know what Delhi was suffering from.
18:09Third, she talked about free vaccines.
18:11Well, everybody did get a free vaccine.
18:13Unless you wanted to go to a private hospital and pay for it, that was your choice.
18:17But we ensured that every citizen would get a free vaccine.
18:20So stop lying.
18:21Neta lies on multiple occasions.
18:25Would you like to answer the question that I asked you very quickly, ma'am?
18:28I will.
18:28Now, when we're talking about how are we going to do anything, we have empowered the citizens of Bihar.
18:33Hasn't the state of Bihar sought a special bailout package from the center?
18:38And the state of Bihar has been given one?
18:40You're part of that government?
18:41And, you know, Preeti, we must also not forget that when Dr. Manmohan Singh ji was the prime minister, they did not help Bihar.
18:48And every time the Bharati Janta party has come to power in the center earlier, when Atil Bihar Iwajpay ji was in power, and when our government came into power, we have always gone and helped Bihar.
18:57We have empowered 5 lakh Ayushman Bharat insurance to 3.5 crore people.
18:59So therefore, the help that you've extended to Bihar is going to be spent in funding freebies to win an election.
19:085 lakh Ayushman Bharat insurance to 3.5 crore people is not freebie.
19:12LPG to 1 crore women is not freebie.
19:14Pipe water to 1.6 crore homes is not freebie.
19:16And today, if we're taking Bihar out from darkness, if we're giving them 125 units free, it's freebie.
19:21But if Congress does that in that state, then bah, bah, bah, Rahul Gandhi nevada pura katiya.
19:24The fact is, you and I both know I wasn't talking about the Ayushman scheme, but let it be.
19:28Today, Bihar, Preeti, has a 5% higher growth rate than national average.
19:32I want to bring in, for one quick final comment, I want to bring in Dr. Shama Mohammed back into this conversation.
19:38Dr. Mohammed, you know, you wanted to come in for a rebuttal on the question I asked you about how the Congress pays for these welfare schemes
19:46of what you call them, but clearly, it doesn't quite trickle down.
19:51One second. Allow Dr. Shama Mohammed to make her point, ma'am. Extend the same courtesy.
19:57Yes, Dr. Mohammed, make your point.
19:59First and foremost, when BJP spokespersons open their mouth, they lie.
20:03I've not been here. Do you know that from 2003 to 2007, I lived in Delhi.
20:07So shut your mouth next time and do not come on.
20:11Preeti, I'm sure you don't have such journeys on India today.
20:14A, let's not interrupt each other. Extend the same courtesy and refrain from making any personal comments on your phone.
20:26Is this the language?
20:27So can I say then, refrain from making any personal comments, ma'am.
20:31Dr. Mohammed, please make your point.
20:34You're a doctor. Have some shame.
20:36Okay, one second. Okay, Ms. Khera.
20:38Please brush. Don't use dirty water to brush your teeth and dentists.
20:42Madame, allow, extend the same courtesy. Dr. Mohammed, refrain from making personal attacks. Go ahead.
20:46Special package promised by Narendra Modi for a long time to be hard.
20:51Where is that special package? They keep pointing fingers at us.
20:54Manrega, which was supposed to be a colossal failure according to Mr. Modi, he continues to do it.
20:59So that's a welfare package. So, you know, every time you point fingers at us, they say that how do you manage it?
21:05When petrol, the oil prices world over was $104 a barrel, we used to subsidize and give it at 75 rupees per litre petrol and 55 rupees per litre diesel.
21:19We know what is subsidy. So we've removed subsidies now and we are giving it into welfare.
21:24So there is no difference much here. We are able to do it. We could do it. We are the ones who got in the Food Security Act.
21:31We got in the Food Security Act here and that is when this 5 rupees, 3 rupees and 2 rupees for aata, meat and rice came in.
21:39And that is what Mr. Modi is giving to 85 crore people.
21:43He says we are the third largest economy, but we are still feeding. We are 140 crore.
21:48Dr. Mohammed, why is the Himachal Bhawan on the verge of an auction today?
21:52Sorry?
21:53Why is it that your Telangana Chief Minister says I am done with the freebie culture in this country?
21:57Because she asked.
21:58Shut up.
21:59Ma'am, allow her to answer.
22:01I have not heard that. I mean, you are saying that, but I have not heard it because I was there in Telangana during the elections.
22:07And the same thing, then you should ask why is Modi, why is Modi who is against welfare schemes?
22:12Why is Modi who is against welfare schemes?
22:14Okay.
22:14He is always...
22:15All right, I am going to end it there.
22:16Ma'am, just for the record, he said it on India today.
22:19He said it in a session that I was moderating.
22:22So that's where he said it, but I'm going to leave it to that.
22:24We've terribly, we've run out of time.
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