Is the Bihar Government Failing to Protect Its Minors?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- The tragic death of a minor girl has ignited widespread protests in Bihar.
- Congress leaders are holding the government accountable for alleged medical negligence.
- The incident highlights ongoing issues of caste and healthcare inequality in the region.
- Protesters are demanding justice and systemic reform.
- Public sentiment is calling for urgent government action to protect vulnerable populations.
Patna, June 1 (NationPress) On Sunday, the Congress party organized protests in Patna and Muzaffarpur, directing their ire at the Nitish Kumar-led government following the heartbreaking death of a Dalit minor girl who reportedly died due to severe medical negligence after a sexual assault. Demonstrations unfolded in both cities, with Congress leaders accusing the state government of criminal neglect, administrative ineptitude, and systemic insensitivity.
In Patna, Congress activists, led by state unit president Rajesh Ram, gathered at Income Tax Golambar, where they burned effigies of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey, demanding a judicial inquiry and the resignation of the Health Minister.
Rajesh Ram proclaimed during the protest, "If justice is not served for this girl, I will traverse Bihar carrying her ashes."
The tragic incident occurred on May 26, when the girl, a resident of Kudhni block in Muzaffarpur, was discovered under mysterious circumstances in a canal after allegedly being raped and discarded.
Arvind Kumar Mukul, the Congress District President of Muzaffarpur, expressed his outrage, stating, “Despite numerous demands to airlift the girl to Patna, the district administration took no action. It was only under immense pressure that she was finally referred to PMCH, where she had to wait four hours in an ambulance before receiving any medical assistance.”
Mukul further asserted that treatment commenced only after Rajesh Ram personally intervened at PMCH. Tragically, the girl passed away shortly after.
“This government preaches ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ but, in reality, girls are perishing due to inadequate treatment. The administration remains silent while the vulnerable suffer. The Health Minister must step down,” Mukul stated to reporters in Muzaffarpur.
In Muzaffarpur, Congress workers obstructed the Saraiyaganj Tower intersection, causing traffic disruptions for hours as chants against the government filled the air, calling for justice for the girl and accountability from top officials.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ranjit Ranjan also criticized the NDA government, describing it as a “double-engine government in deep slumber.”
“Serious crimes are rampant across Bihar, yet the government remains complacent... law and order has deteriorated, the healthcare system is in shambles, and no one is held accountable,” Ranjan remarked.
The deceased girl belonged to the Dalit community, and her untimely death has ignited a broader discussion on caste, healthcare disparities, and administrative responsibility in Bihar.