Bihar Minister Shreyasi Singh Clarifies on Moral Policing Amid Jamui Incident Row

Bihar Minister and local MLA Shreyasi Singh has clarified that her comments on moral policing in light of the Jamui incident were taken out of context. Singh, who is also the Industries and Sports Minister for Bihar, had sparked controversy after a clip from a television interview surfaced on Monday in which she was heard saying: “Moral policing, on one hand, it can be done in a more decent and an elegant fashion, but the way they mishandled, mistreated the boy and the girl together is absolutely not tolerable.”.

“It is unfortunate that certain remarks are being selectively presented and taken out of context,” Singh told The Indian Express on Tuesday, adding the clip, which has gone viral, was part of a longer interview that was conducted while she was in the midst of an official meeting. “The questions asked, the sequence of the discussion, and my repeated assertion that such incidents would not be tolerated clearly convey my position,” Singh said.

According to Singh, her comments were not about condoning or promoting moral policing. However, rather about condemning the way the Jamui incident was handled.

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A disturbing incident has sparked widespread outrage in Jamui. There, two school-age students were reportedly confronted by a group of men on their way home from tuition classes. The boy was physically assaulted, while the girl was allegedly subjected to a serious form of harassment.

Authorities have launched an investigation, registering a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a national justice system.

On Tuesday, the main accused, Nandan Yadav, who had allegedly been absconding, sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during an encounter with police, Munger DIG Rakesh Kumar confirmed to The Indian Express. A second accused also suffered a leg injury. Both men, locals aged 25, were admitted to Sadar Hospital.

The Jamui incident has sparked a wider debate on moral policing in India. In 2005, Bihar was a different state, with a different kind of law and order. Singh's comments have been seen as a reflection of this shift in priorities.

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Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has responded to Singh's comments, saying that she appeared to be suggesting that “moral policing” should have been carried out in a “respectful manner”. Yadav has also called for Singh to give “tuition” on moral policing.

“(This) Means that now BJP ministers in the NDA government want incidents of harassment, sexual assault, drug trafficking, murder and rape under the guise of ‘moral policing’ to be carried out in a ‘respectful manner’ and in a supposedly ‘sattvik’ way?” Yadav wrote, adding that Singh should give “tuition” on moral policing.

Singh has clarified that her priority remains justice, accountability, and the safety of the people. “The priority was, and remains, justice, accountability, and the safety of the people,” she said.