Why Did Patna Police Use Lathi-Charge on Jan Suraaj Workers?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Police used lathi-charge to control the Jan Suraaj Party protests.
- Issues of jobs and land rights are central to the protests.
- Prashant Kishor emphasizes the need for government accountability.
- Public sentiment is growing against the current government.
- Protests signal an expanding political battlefield in Bihar.
Patna, July 23 (NationPress) The political climate in Bihar intensified on the third day of the monsoon session as the police employed a lathi-charge to disperse supporters of political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party who were attempting to besiege the Vidhan Sabha.
On Wednesday, while the RJD-led opposition raised a ruckus inside the House concerning the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and law and order problems, the Jan Suraaj Party took to the streets, calling for a Vidhan Sabha gherao.
Prashant Kishor had declared plans to surround the Assembly over various critical concerns, including employment, land rights, and allegations of corruption in the land survey process.
The party asserted it had gathered one crore signatures throughout the state, stressing that these issues are significantly impacting the residents of Bihar.
Responding to his call, a substantial number of Jan Suraaj Party workers rallied in Patna and began their march toward the Assembly.
The police attempted to halt their advance near Chitkohra Golambar, but the protesters endeavored to push forward towards the Bihar Assembly, resulting in a clash.
As tensions heightened and protesters ignored multiple warnings, the police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd, injuring several workers in the process.
Prashant Kishor has been vocal in his criticism, asserting that the Bihar government has failed to deliver jobs and secure land rights, while denouncing the corruption and inefficiencies in land surveys that have left numerous impoverished and marginal families in distress.
"Today's gherao of the Bihar Assembly was a people's movement to demand accountability from the government on these fundamental issues. The police's initiation of the lathi-charge against us is intolerable. We will remove the Nitish Kumar government from Bihar," Kishor stated.
Following the lathi-charge, a delegation from the Jan Suraaj Party proceeded to the Chief Secretary's office for a meeting.
Inside the Assembly, the opposition maintained its protest regarding the voter list revision under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and law and order issues, leading to frequent adjournments.
Outside the Assembly, the Jan Suraaj Party aimed to challenge the government from the streets, indicating a broader political battleground in Bihar as elections approach.