Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, has strongly criticized the Bihar government for its handling of the police action against protesters during the July 25 demonstrations. He demanded the release of detained students and the withdrawal of criminal cases registered against them. Tejashwi Yadav warned of a large-scale agitation by the Opposition if these demands were not met.
Tejashwi Yadav took to social media to allege that the government had disregarded democratic norms in its response to the student protests. He claimed that the use of AK-47s against protesting students marked a departure from democratic traditions in the country. Despite purported agreements with student representatives, he accused the government of detaining thousands of students, filing cases against them, and harassing their families.
Expressing solidarity with the protesting students, Tejashwi Yadav accused the government of suppressing a movement addressing issues crucial to the youth’s future. His remarks followed the suspension of a police officer in Siwan after a video surfaced showing an AK-47 being fired during clashes amid the Bihar Bandh over NEET paper leaks. An inquiry into the incident has been initiated by the authorities.
Returning to Patna, Tejashwi Yadav reiterated his criticism of the government’s actions while speaking to reporters at the airport. He emphasized that the students were advocating for their future and claimed that agreements had been made in Delhi regarding their demands, including the withdrawal of cases from the agitation. Tejashwi Yadav issued an ultimatum to the NDA government, warning of a statewide mass agitation if the cases were not withdrawn and the detained students were not released by Monday.
The Bihar government has not responded publicly to Tejashwi Yadav’s latest warning. Investigations into the incidents of violence and police action during the protests are ongoing.
