Patna, Aug 21 (IANS) Bihar Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Tejashwi Yadav on Friday visited the Gardanibagh protest site in Patna, where BPSC TRE‑4 aspirants and other students demanding transparency in competitive examinations are observing a hunger strike.
Yadav extended support to the protesters and launched a sharp attack on the Bihar government and the Education Minister over their demands. He told the gathering that “people are supreme in a democracy”. He asserted that the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) would not hesitate to stand on the streets or face police action if necessary to fight for the rights of Bihar’s youth.
At Gardanibagh, Yadav said the RJD fully supports the legitimate demands of the candidates participating in the hunger strike. He questioned why students were being forced to protest on the streets over issues the government should address.
According to him, an elected government is responsible for conducting examinations on time and transparently, without irregularities, collusion, or paper leaks.
He alleged that Bihar has become a hub of unemployment and accused the government of putting the future of students and young people at risk.
Yadav said the opposition would unite to fight for the interests of students and youth, reiterating the RJD’s support for the ongoing movement at Gardanibagh.
He urged the government to listen to the concerns of students and young people, warning that “no position or seat of power is permanent” and that the public cannot be ignored because of political arrogance.
He also alleged that the government has reduced financial assistance available to young people under the ‘Saat Nischay’ (Seven Resolves) scheme launched in 2015.
He argued that the reduction has increased the financial burden on families at a time when inflation and unemployment are already pressuring households.
Yadav reiterated that the RJD would continue to raise issues concerning students and youth from the streets to the state legislature, pledging to fight to protect their future.
Reacting to his remarks, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sanjay Gupta hit back, alleging that Yadav had failed to raise issues concerning students and the general public during the Bihar Assembly’s monsoon session.
Gupta accused him of neglecting his responsibilities as Leader of the Opposition and claimed that his visit to the protest site was an attempt to gain political mileage.
He described Yadav’s support for the protesters as “crocodile tears” aimed at securing what he called cheap popularity.
–IANS
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