Patna, Aug 19: RJD leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav was detained here on Wednesday after police stopped a party-led march to Lok Bhavan over alleged excessive force used against students protesting the NEET paper leak.
Yadav, who was leading thousands of RJD supporters, faced water cannons after the protesters were stopped near the Income Tax roundabout. The marchers had earlier breached barricades at Dak Bungalow crossing amid a heavy police deployment.
Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma confirmed Yadav’s detention. He was taken away in a police vehicle along with RJD Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav, with police not immediately disclosing their destination.
Angered by the detention, several RJD supporters attempted to climb onto the police vehicle and tried to prevent it from leaving.
“These tactics are not going to dampen our spirits. We will make the government see reason and listen to the voice of the students,” Tejashwi Yadav said before his detention.
He alleged that the government was pushing students’ future “into darkness” as examination papers were being leaked frequently.
The RJD march was primarily focused on alleged police excesses during student protests, particularly an incident in Siwan on July 25 in which a constable was accused of using an AK-47 rifle during a demonstration. The constable was subsequently suspended, while Siwan SP Pooran Kumar Jha was transferred on August 18.
RJD supporters demanded stronger action against senior officials, arguing that a transfer was insufficient. “Why just a transfer? Both the DM and the SP should have been suspended,” one supporter said.
Some protesters carried dummy AK-47 rifles to highlight their allegations against the police.
RJD MP Manoj Jha said the party’s march was aimed at conveying the students’ concerns to the Governor. “It is important to understand the emotions of Gen Z,” Jha said, adding that the protesters wanted to bring the issue to the Bihar Governor’s notice.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra said the protesters intended to submit a memorandum at Lok Bhavan. Police sources said a delegation of protesters was likely to be allowed to meet the Governor.
During the demonstration, Patna Sadar SDM Kritika also cautioned protesters over the handling of the national flag after some participants were allegedly seen carrying the tricolour upside down. “Several people are holding the national flag upside down,” she said, warning that disrespecting the tricolour was unconstitutional and punishable.
The RJD has alleged that excessive force is being used against students demanding a fair and transparent examination system.
The BJP, however, sharply criticised the march. Bihar BJP president Sanjay Saraogi described it as an attempt to “save the career” of Tejashwi Yadav and attacked his record as a student, cricketer and politician.
Saraogi also cited the Bihar government’s paper-leak legislation, which provides for a fine of up to Rs 1 crore and imprisonment of up to eight years in such cases. He alleged that Tejashwi Yadav was abroad when the legislation was passed.
Former RJD leader and now BJP member Mritunjay Tiwari too targeted the Opposition leader, describing the march as a “bid to save the RJD and the Leader of Opposition post for Tejashwi Yadav.”
The confrontation between the RJD and the government comes amid growing political tensions over allegations of examination irregularities and the police response to student protests in the state.
