The Harmu road in Ranchi witnessed a clash between BJP and Congress workers during a protest over the NEET issue. Congress workers marching to gherao the BJP office were met by BJP supporters, resulting in a volatile face-off with slogan-shouting and the throwing of eggs, tomatoes, and water bottles.
Demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability in the alleged NEET paper leak case, thousands of Congress workers marched towards the BJP’s state office on Harmu Road. However, the administration halted the protesters around 100 meters before the BJP office by setting up multiple layers of barricades.
As tensions escalated, demonstrators tried to remove police barricades, leading to a confrontation with security personnel. Pushing and jostling occurred between Congress workers and the police, who managed to prevent the protesters from advancing further.
Meanwhile, outside the BJP office, a large number of BJP supporters gathered, brandishing party flags and chanting slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the opposition party. The atmosphere grew tense as workers from both sides faced off, resulting in the throwing of eggs, tomatoes, and water bottles.
In response to the escalating situation, the area around Harmu Road and nearby localities were transformed into a high-security zone. A significant deployment of police personnel, rapid action units, and senior administrative officials was arranged to prevent a direct confrontation between the two groups and to uphold law and order.
The protest severely disrupted traffic on Harmu Road, leading to long vehicle queues. Traffic police redirected vehicles through alternative routes to alleviate congestion. This clash follows a previous protest by BJP workers over alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC preliminary examination, which had escalated tensions between the BJP and Congress.
Thursday’s Congress protest regarding the NEET issue has further heightened the political rivalry in the state.
