What Advice Did Shivanand Tiwari Give to Rahul and Tejashwi During the Bihar Bandh Protest?

Patna, July 9 (NationPress) In light of the Bihar Bandh initiated by the Opposition against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, just prior to the Assembly elections, RJD's National Vice-President and a close associate of Lalu Yadav, Shivanand Tiwari, has extended a crucial piece of advice to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The protest, led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and other coalition partners, aims to stop the ongoing voter list verification process. Opposition leaders are concerned that this initiative could disenfranchise voters from marginalized communities.

“I have a simple suggestion for both of them. If you reach the gates of the Election Commission, consider staging a dharna there. If the police intervene, continue your protest wherever you are stopped. Should you be arrested, refrain from taking bail. Such actions could transform the atmosphere of the nation,” Tiwari recommended.

Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram commented that Rahul Gandhi has been consistently present on the streets during national crises and emphasized that the current verification drive is a direct assault on democracy and constitutional rights.

“Today, we face a democratic crisis — the conspiracy to suppress votes is evident. We oppose this vehemently, and our leader Rahul Gandhi stands with us in this struggle. This is more than a movement; it’s a commitment to safeguard the constitutional rights of the common citizen,” Rajesh Ram stated.

The Opposition has expressed its concerns regarding a process that requires 78 million voters to prove their citizenship within a brief period. In Bihar, where poverty and low literacy rates hinder awareness of documentation, nearly 30 million voters may need to present 11 specific documents, rather than just the commonly held ration cards, Aadhaar cards, or voter IDs.

During the Bihar Bandh, leaders of the Mahagathbandhan, led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, are marching from the Income Tax roundabout to the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, where they intend to surround the office.

The Opposition is calling for the suspension of the voter list revision process until after the Assembly elections to avoid potential misuse.

Prior to Rahul Gandhi’s arrival, Congress had displayed posters featuring his image across significant junctions in Patna.

The Grand Alliance contends that the requirement for 11 specific documents for voter verification could exclude millions of impoverished and marginalized voters from the electoral rolls, labeling it a blatant violation of democratic rights.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission continues with the SIR process, while the ruling NDA has branded the Opposition's protests as politically motivated ahead of the forthcoming Bihar Assembly elections.