New Delhi: Several Congress leaders and workers were detained by Patna Police in the city on Friday during their Pada-Yatra, a drive which was aimed to gather the state’s youth against issues like unemployment. Visuals showed that police used water canons and batons to prevent the protestors from reaching the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Anne Marg.
Congress workers started its march from the Sadaqat Ashram, which is the headquarters of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee. However, they faced barricades at Raja Pul. The attempts to cross the hurdles led to the police enforcement on the protestors.
The Congress’ Pada-Yatra’ was joined by AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot and spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. According to a report by news agency PTI, the Patna Police used water cannons and detained many Congress workers, including National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar.
“Even though the police arrested the youth and took them away from Kotwali police station in Patna, they could not suppress their voice,” posted Bihar Congress on its X handle. While Kanhaiya and other workers were being detained by the police, the chants of slogan ‘Halla Bol’ were heard.
Pilot hits at Nitish Kumar
While addressing the gathering in the padyatra, Pilot took dig at Bihar CM Nitish Kumar for alleged failure to secure benefits for the state despite being an ally of the ruling NDA government in the centre. He also pointed out the concerns over rising migration in the state.
“The government should stop the migration that has been happening from Bihar in lakhs. We are asking for accountability. The youth have marched on the streets with us… The government releases numbers only to mislead us. The reality is far from it,” Pilot said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Kanhaiya Kumar said the intention to meet the Bihar CM was to bring the issues of people to his notice from what they learnt during the yatra.
“We are followers of Gandhi, we believe in truth and non-violence, and we put forward our demands through Satyagraha. Our intent in meeting the Chief Minister was to share various issues that people have told us about during this yatra,” Kanhaiya said.
