Iconic Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan today sought to downplay a viral video that purportedly showed him mercilessly thrashing a man with his shoe, who he claimed was his disciple.

The video shows the popular Qawwali singer repeatedly hitting and slapping him while enquiring about a “bottle”. The man is seen pleading with the singer, saying he has no idea about it. In another scene, some people were seen trying to pull the singer away to save the student.

Samaa TV, a Pakistani broadcaster, identified the man as his employee and said such violent behaviour among singers is a worrying trend.

Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali khan was caught abusing his servant. Later, he gave an explanation. pic.twitter.com/PC0DawSEsq

— Брат (@B5001001101) January 27, 2024

Mr Khan, nephew of legendary Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, later clarified that it was a personal matter between an “ustad and his shagird (teacher and disciple)”. He posted a video featuring the man who was seen being beaten up, as well as his father, to clarify his actions.

“This is about a personal issue between an ustad and shagird. He is like my son. This is how the relation is between a teacher and his disciple. If a disciple does something good, I shower my love on him. If he does something wrong, he is punished,” he said in the video.

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan said he had also apologised to him after the incident.

In the clarification video, the man who was beaten admitted he had misplaced a bottle containing holy water – which led to the incident, but clarified there was no ill-intention behind his actions. “He’s like my father. He loves us a lot. Whoever spread this video is trying to defame my ustad,” he added.

His father also supported Mr Khan, highlighting the relation between the ‘ustad and shagird‘ in the field of Qawwali.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar appears set for a second political volte-face in less than three years and is likely to return to an alliance with the BJP today. He will meet the Governor at 11.30 am and resign to start the process, sources said.

Nitish Kumar is expected to tender his resignation today, sources said. It comes amid speculation that Nitish Kumar and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar may exit the 28-party Opposition bloc formed to take on the BJP-led Central government.

BJP MLAs and MPs will meet today at 10 am at the party office in Patna to further chalk out the strategy over the latest political situation in Bihar. BJP President JP Nadda along with few others BJP leaders will also reach Patna by special charter flight at 3 pm today.

A meeting of JDU MLAs is scheduled at Nitish Kumar’s residence at 10 am and BJP leaders will meet Nitish Kumar at his residence at around 11 am. Nitish Kumar may handover his resignation around 2 pm today, as per sources. 

Nitish Kumar will sack ministers belonging to alliance partner and Lalu Yadav’s party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) today, sources told NDTV.

The BJP and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), have also finalised a seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha election due in three months.

All BJP MLAs in Bihar have already given letters of support to Nitish Kumar, sources have said.

Here are the LIVE updates on Bihar Politics crisis:

Nitish Kumar is expected to resign as Bihar Chief Minister today, ending his party Janata Dal(United)’s two-year association with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Mr Kumar is likely to return to an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has already collected support letters for the JD(U) leader. The BJP and JD(U) have also finalised a seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha election due in three months.

Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP in 2022 and formed the government in a ‘Mahagatbandhan’ with Lalu Yadav’s RJD, the Congress, and Left parties.

RJD is currently the single-largest party in the 243-member Bihar Assembly, with 79 MLAs. But even the RJD is 43 short of the halfway mark – 122.

The BJP is the second biggest party in the assembly with a strength of 78 MLAs.

Here is how the numbers stack up in the Bihar assembly:

RJD – 79 MLAs

BJP – 78 MLAs

JD(U) – 45

Congress – 19

CPI (M-L) – 12

Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) – 4

CPI – 2

CPI (M) – 2

AIMIM – 1

Independent MLA – 1

Can JD(U) And BJP Form The Government In Bihar?

If Nitish Kumar and the BJP join hands, they would end up with 123 MLAs, just one more than the halfway mark needed to form the government. The BJP also has the support of the Hindustani Awam Morcha, which would bring four more MLAs into the fold, making it easier for the alliance to prove majority.

BJP sources have told NDTV that all the party’s legislators in the state have already given letters of support to Nitish Kumar. Instead of Nitish Kumar stepping down as Chief Minister, the BJP is also considering reshuffling the Bihar cabinet by replacing RJD ministers with its own MLAs.

What Happens To ‘Mahagatbandhan’ If Nitish Kumar Exits?

If JD(U) breaks away from the ruling coalition, they would fall short by eight MLAs. RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav though has hinted that they form to stake claim to form the government.

With the backing of Congress and the left parties, the coalition would have 114 MLAs – eight short of the halfway mark.

According to sources, Tejashwi Yadav told party leaders that the game is yet to begin in Bihar.

“Whatever remained undone in two decades, we managed to get it done within a short time- be it jobs, caste census, increasing reservation, etc. ‘Bihar mein abhi khel hona baki hain’ (The game is yet to begin in Bihar)” Mr Yadav reportedly said.