Was CM Nitish Kumar laughing during national anthem? WATCH VIDEO

Bihar: There is a video of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar going more viral on social media today. The video was recorded at the inaugural ceremony of the Sepaktakraw World Cup 2018 in Patna. In a viral video, he is laughing and chatting with others while the national anthem is being played, which invited the ire of the opposition. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has once again been mired in controversies. He was spotted on camera laughing and socializing while the national anthem was being played at the inaugural ceremony of the Sepaktakraw World Cup at Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna. The moment this video went viral, the opposition pounced on him.

you are making light of the national anthem as well?

Tejashwi Yadav, who is a former deputy CM, took exception to what had happened and called Nitish Kumar an insulter of Bihar and the nation. "Chief Minister, at least do not disown the national anthem.

पटना : राष्ट्रगान के दौरान हंसते और अभिवादन करते नजर आए सीएम नीतीश, प्रधान सचिव दीपक कुमार ने की रोकने की कोशिश @NitishKumar #vairal #Bihar pic.twitter.com/Oq1by1u2Sb

— MD Imran (@imran_RJD) March 20, 2025

You disrespect youth, students, women and old people on a daily basis, but now you are making light of the national anthem as well?" Laughter and chat while playing national anthem.

Chief Minister persisted in laughing and conversing

On the day, while the national anthem was being sung on the stage, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was engaged in conversation with his Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar. He was patting her on the shoulder and attempting to catch her eye. Deepak Kumar also kept a hand on Nitish Kumar's arm and asked him to be calm, but the Chief Minister persisted in laughing and conversing. As the national anthem was played, Nitish Kumar descended the stage and proceeded to greet the contestants.

Tejashwi and Lalu posted the video

The moment the video became viral, the opposition turned it into a big issue. Tejashwi Yadav posted on X (earlier Twitter) that Nitish Kumar ji, you cannot keep yourself mentally and physically composed even for a few seconds. You are going on in this post in such an automatic condition, it is a cause for concern for Bihar. Do not humiliate Bihar again and again. Lalu Prasad Yadav also posted the video and mentioned, "India will not accept disrespect of the national anthem. People of Bihar, is there anything left?

NDA ally defends

While there has been no official response from Nitish Kumar and his party Janata Dal United (JDU) on the issue, the Chief Minister can unconditionally apologize considering the chances of a ruckus in the assembly, sources said. Meanwhile, Union Minister and NDA ally Jitan Ram Manjhi spoke in favor of Nitish Kumar. He tweeted on X that the people who are insulting Bihar and the nation are challenging Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Lalu Yadav and his party has degraded the image of Bihar but Nitish Kumar has provided international recognition to the state," he mentioned.

Nitish Kumar has been controversial previously

It is not the first time Nitish Kumar has made headlines for indiscipline at a solemn time. Previously, on January 30, there was a commotion when Mahatma Gandhi was clapping while paying floral tributes to him, prompting criticism from opposition too.