A journalist named Divakar Sahni was allegedly assaulted and abused by Bihar’s Urban Development Minister Jibesh Mishra (a BJP legislator) in Darbhanga.

The altercation began when Sahni questioned Minister Mishra about the poor condition of roads and infrastructure in his Jale constituency. A video purportedly shows the Minister losing his temper, physically assaulting the journalist, and grabbing his mobile phone.

Leader of Opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav demanded immediate action, including booking the Minister for assault, and accused the state government of shielding him.

THE DEMAND FOR JUSTICE

Tejashwi visited the police station to meet the journalist and questioned why an FIR was not being filed against the Minister despite the physical assault and verbal abuse. He used the incident to attack the current government’s handling of law and order and press freedom.

This incident highlights the tension between the freedom of the press to question public officials and the alleged abuse of power by a government minister.

When a journalist is physically assaulted for asking about public infrastructure, does this signal a failure of democracy or an abuse of power?