In a lively exchange that lit up the Bihar Assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar faced a cheeky retort from RJD legislator Bhai Virendra. The session turned personal when Virendra raised alarms over high arsenic levels contaminating water in Bihta and Maner panchayats, linking it to rising cancer cases among locals.
Demanding immediate government action, Virendra pressed the issue hard. Water Resources Minister Sanjay Singh countered, citing a February 9, 2026, test that found no arsenic traces. Unconvinced, Virendra accused the minister of misleading the house with flawed reports.
As tensions simmered, Nitish Kumar intervened, pointing at Virendra’s sweater and quipping, ‘The cold is over, why the heavy wool?’ Virendra fired back swiftly: ‘You gifted it to me, big brother. I’m the little brother wearing your present. Take your medicine on time, and you won’t forget.’
The house erupted in murmurs, blending humor with the serious arsenic debate. Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary promised fresh probes into the water contamination while explaining Nitish’s remark stemmed from the warming weather.
Elsewhere, debates raged on rural haats, footpath vendor evictions, and farmer market upgrades. Agriculture Minister Ramkripal Yadav assured modernizing village markets to ensure fair prices for produce, emphasizing the government’s farmer support.
This spat underscores the fiery opposition dynamics in Bihar politics, where health crises meet personal jabs, keeping legislators on their toes.