# Bihar lyricist Neeraj Pandey rebuts MLA Maithili Thakur’s safety claim

2026-09-24T08:57:28+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Lyricist Neeraj Pandey has publicly disagreed with Bihar BJP MLA Maithili Thakur's statement that women are safe in the state, in the wake of the Jamui molestation incident. Pandey, who is from Bihar's Buxar, wrote on Instagram that he 'never felt safe growing up there' and that his 'physical boundaries were invaded many times' despite being a man. He said Thakur's 'comfort doesn't speak for everyone' and that the reality of a state should be asked of those on the receiving end. Thakur had said in an April interview that she felt 'absolutely safe' in Bihar in response to Mamata Banerjee's remarks on safety in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. After the September 19 Jamui incident, where two Class X students were stopped and harassed by a group of men, Thakur condemned the act and thanked Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary for swift action. The Bihar police have formed a Special Investigation Team led by sub-divisional police officer Deepti Monali to track down the suspects.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Both outlets report Neeraj Pandey's rebuttal of Maithili Thakur's safety claim, but frame it differently. Times Now leads with Thakur's original 'I'm Safe In Bihar' statement, treating Pandey's reaction as a response to a wider societal problem, while Hindustan Times foregrounds Pandey's direct political critique of a BJP MLA, using words like 'slams' and 'rebuts'. Hindustan Times adds detail on Pandey's Bihar origin (Buxar) and includes the full Jamui incident chronology, while Times Now gives more space to Thakur's earlier interview and her later condemnation. Neither outlet challenges either figure's claims. The Jamui SIT investigation, led by Deepti Monali, is the concrete development to follow.

## Coverage

- timesnownews.com (neutral report) <https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/mrs-lyricist-neeraj-pandey-disagrees-with-maithili-thakurs-im-safe-in-bihar-statement-my-physical-boundaries-were-invaded-article-156211284>
  Led with Thakur's statement as a backdrop to Pandey's personal trauma framing, softening the political angle
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/writer-neeraj-pandey-slams-bjp-mp-maithili-thakurs-i-feel-safe-in-bihar-statement-over-jamui-incident-101790227016314.html>
  Foregrounded political criticism, using 'slams' and naming BJP MLA, adding Jamui incident details

Tags: Bihar, BJP, Jamui, Maithili Thakur, Neeraj Pandey, Samrat Chaudhary
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/bihar-lyricist-neeraj-pandey-rebuts-mla-maithili-thakurs-safety-claim/
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Cite: https://indianopinion.org/bihar-lyricist-neeraj-pandey-rebuts-mla-maithili-thakurs-safety-claim/#story-in-brief