Bihar: JD(U) MLA abuses journalists on being asked why he carried pistol inside hospital
Patna (PTI): An MLA of the ruling JD(U) in Bihar on Friday hurled expletives at journalists who questioned him about a recent video clip in which he was seen entering a hospital premises with an unholstered pistol in his hand.
Gopal Mandal, who represents the Gopalpur assembly segment in Bhagalpur, drew flak from his own party for his conduct. The police, meanwhile, ordered an inquiry into the video footage that has gone viral on social media.
When journalists in Patna approached the MLA with queries about the video which was said to be a couple of days old, Mandal tried to explain away his conduct saying, "I was carrying my licensed pistol as I always do. But I had forgotten to carry the holster. So I had kept the firearm inside the pocket of my pajamas."
He added, "I had gone to the hospital to see a relative. While climbing the stairs, the pistol started slipping out of my pocket. So I caught hold of it."
When journalists teased him with the question that whether he was still carrying his pistol, the MLA, who remains in the news for his bouts of temper, snapped.
"Yes, I do. Do you want me to show it to you? What kind of journalists are you? Do you think you are my father?" blurted Mandal, spouting a few expletives that were strongly protested by the journalists.
The MLA was prevented from creating a big scene by security personnel who tugged at his sleeves.
However, when the matter was reported to state minister Ashok Choudhary, a close confidant of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while he was interacting with JD(U) workers at the party office here, he said "we condemn the behaviour".
Choudhary also suggested that he was not happy with the party MLA's penchant for displaying firepower, saying, "Ours is a party that follows in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi and Ram Manohar Lohia. We do not speak the language of guns and bullets."
In Bhagalpur, Senior Superintendent of Police Anand Kumar told reporters that an inquiry has been conducted into the video by a deputy SP rank officer and it has been found that the MLA was carrying a licensed weapon.
"The matter is now being referred to the district magistrate, who is the licensing authority, for necessary action," he said.
Serving his fourth consecutive term in the assembly, Mandal has been in the news for his indiscreet behaviour on more than one occasion, the most infamous of these being on board a train two years ago when co-passengers expressed outrage over his moving around in his underclothes.
VIDEO | Here is how Bihar JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal responded to media queries about him walking with a revolver in his hand inside a hospital in Bhagalpur recently. pic.twitter.com/faw6HVao4O
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 6, 2023
VIDEO | Janata Dal-United MLA Gopal Mandal was seen walking with a revolver in his hand inside a hospital in Bhagalpur, Bihar. pic.twitter.com/3cAvvidAln
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 4, 2023
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National Synodal Assembly 2026 begins in Bengaluru with over 220 delegates
Bengaluru: The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) on May 1 inaugurated its National Synodal Assembly 2026 at St. John’s Medical College, bringing together more than 220 delegates from across the country under the theme Synodal Pilgrims of Hope.
The assembly is part of the global synodal process initiated in 2021 by Pope Francis, which calls for greater participation, dialogue and shared responsibility within the Church. In India, the process has involved consultations at diocesan, regional and national levels.
Participants at the assembly include two Cardinals, 25 Bishops, 65 priests, more than 20 women religious, and over 100 lay faithful, including youth and women leaders.
The gathering began with a Eucharistic celebration led by Filipe Neri Ferrão. In his homily, he described the assembly as a moment of grace and discernment and called on delegates to walk together in prayer, listening and missionary commitment.
He spoke about the importance of the Risen Christ in the mission of the Church and urged the faithful to be witnesses of the Gospel. Referring to the conversion of St Paul, he said every baptised person has a role in spreading the message of Christ. He also highlighted the example of St Joseph the Worker, stressing the dignity of labour and the call to holiness in everyday life.
The formal inauguration included the invocation of the Holy Spirit through Veni Creator Spiritus and the lighting of the ceremonial lamp. Deputy Secretary General Fr. Stephen Alathara welcomed the delegates and described the gathering as a spiritual journey.
In his presidential address, Cardinal Ferrão referred to the CCBI pastoral plan titled Journeying Towards a Synodal Church: Mission 2033 and called on participants to build on the vision outlined at the 36th Plenary Assembly held in Bhubaneswar in 2025.
Delegates will reflect on four key themes identified from 16 pastoral priorities: interreligious dialogue and peacebuilding, inclusion of the excluded, poverty and integral ecology, and support for children and youth.
The discussions are being conducted through a method of spiritual conversation aimed at encouraging listening, dialogue and collective decision-making. The focus is on translating these discussions into practical actions within the Church.
The assembly also looks ahead to the Jubilee Year 2033, which will mark 2,000 years of the Redemption, and aims to strengthen the Church’s mission in the coming years.
Further consultations are scheduled for September 2026, with the process expected to conclude at the 38th Plenary Assembly of the CCBI in January 2027.
Organisers said the assembly seeks to strengthen unity within the Church and promote participation of all sections, including women and youth, in shaping its future direction.
