Why Were BJP, JD(U) Calling Congress 'Helpless' After Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya Kumar Were Denied Vehicle Access?

New Delhi, July 10 (NationPress) The INDIA Bloc's 'Bihar Bandh' protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls took a surprising turn when Purnea MP Rajesh Ranjan, known as Pappu Yadav, along with Congress youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar, were obstructed from boarding the vehicle of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and were forcibly moved aside by security personnel.

This incident has sparked criticism from the BJP, Janata Dal (United), and Hindustani Awam Morcha, who described it as a manifestation of the Congress’s “helplessness” and highlighted internal disarray within the INDIA Bloc.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh expressed strong disapproval of the treatment meted out to the two leaders.

“There can be no greater insult in social circles. Until now, it was believed that these individuals were significant leaders of Bihar, yet they have been disrespected by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav,” he stated.

JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan criticized RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav for demonstrating political insecurity.

“Tejashwi is threatened by anyone who has achieved political recognition based on their own merit. Pappu Yadav has his own identity, and the nation recognizes Kanhaiya Kumar. However, Tejashwi is intolerant of their proximity to Rahul Gandhi. This incident has exposed these rifts. If Congress possesses any political integrity left, it should terminate its alliance with RJD,” he remarked.

Hindustani Awam Morcha President Santosh Kumar Suman also criticized the Congress, asserting that the incident tarnishes their leadership.

“This raises a critical question — what is Rahul Gandhi’s actual stature? Here is a leader of a national party acting under the directives of a regional figure. Kanhaiya is recognized as close to Rahul, and Pappu Yadav has engaged in numerous discussions with him. Yet, both were not only denied entry onto the protest vehicle but were physically prevented from doing so. The individual controlling the vehicle evidently did not want them present,” he told IANS, referencing Tejashwi Yadav.

BJP National Spokesperson R.P. Singh drew a comparison between the scenario in Bihar and the internal conflicts within the Samajwadi Party-led alliance in Uttar Pradesh.

“In UP, they initially demanded five seats, then two, ultimately pleading to contest under their own symbol — only to be turned down by Akhilesh Yadav. The same humiliation is occurring here. Congress leaders are now being sidelined from their own platform,” Singh shared with IANS.

This controversy emerges amid increasing tensions within the Opposition alliance in Bihar. While Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav took center stage atop the protest vehicle, Pappu Yadav — who previously merged his Jan Adhikar Party with Congress before the Lok Sabha elections — and Kanhaiya Kumar, were effectively barred from joining the leadership on the vehicle.

Despite waving a Congress flag and attempting to board, Pappu Yadav was physically restrained and pushed aside. Kanhaiya Kumar faced a similar fate. The visuals of the incident — captured on numerous cameras and now trending online — have raised significant concerns regarding the internal dynamics of the Opposition coalition in Bihar.

Interestingly, political analysts point out that Pappu Yadav was the pioneer to declare a 'chakka jam' protest against the Election Commission’s voter list revision. However, the movement was swiftly overshadowed by the RJD and Congress, who escalated it into a statewide bandh, sidelining Pappu from a protest he initially initiated.

Despite merging his party with the Congress, Pappu Yadav was denied a Lok Sabha ticket from Purnea. The RJD opted for Bima Bharti, whom Yadav eventually defeated as an Independent candidate. Throughout this ordeal, Congress's leadership remained predominantly silent.

Kanhaiya Kumar, on the other hand, has played a subtle yet visible role in the Congress’ youth outreach initiatives and is regarded as being close to the top leadership. Yet his exclusion on Wednesday adds to the speculation regarding his current political standing within the party.

This incident has unveiled growing tensions within the INDIA Bloc, particularly highlighting the evident conflict between RJD and Congress in Bihar. The sight of LoP Gandhi — a national figure — seemingly deferring to regional partner Tejashwi Yadav, while long-time allies like Pappu and Kanhaiya are marginalized, has raised uncomfortable inquiries about power dynamics and mutual trust within the Opposition.