RJD to march to Raj Bhavan on Aug 19 over Bihar police action on students
Synopsis
The RJD is turning Bihar's student unrest into a full political offensive. Tejashwi Yadav's 19 August march to Raj Bhavan — demanding accountability for an alleged AK-47 firing in Siwan and a lathi-charge on exam protesters — is the opposition's sharpest challenge yet to the ruling coalition's law-and-order record in the state.
Key Takeaways
RJD will lead a march to Raj Bhavan, Patna on 19 August over alleged police action against student protesters.
The march will be led by Tejashwi Yadav , with RJD MLAs, MLCs, and workers participating, starting from Veerchand Patel Path .
Tejashwi has demanded accountability for the alleged use of an AK-47 rifle in Siwan and questioned why the SP was not suspended.
He alleged that Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Deputy Chief Ministers did not visit injured students, and called for a public apology.
Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav have reportedly raised the issue in Parliament; the RJD is urging opposition leaders to visit Bihar.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has announced a march to the Raj Bhavan in Patna on 19 August to protest the alleged lathi-charge and firing on students who had taken to the streets over examination irregularities. The march will be led by RJD National Working President Tejashwi Yadav, with party MLAs, MLCs, and workers expected to join.
How the March Is Planned
The procession will originate from the RJD office on Veerchand Patel Path and proceed towards the Raj Bhavan. Tejashwi Yadav announced the programme in Delhi following a meeting with RJD MPs from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
What Tejashwi Yadav Demanded
Addressing reporters, Tejashwi questioned the government's handling of the student protests and sought clarity over the alleged use of an AK-47 rifle during the crackdown in Siwan, demanding accountability for the decision to deploy firearms against demonstrators. He criticised authorities for suspending a lower-ranking constable while, according to him, failing to hold senior officials responsible — specifically asking why the Superintendent of Police (SP) had not been suspended.
Tejashwi said the RJD delegation had met the Director General of Police (DGP), who reportedly assured them that action would follow, but alleged that no adequate steps had been taken since. He accused the government of allowing a 'police raj' to prevail in Bihar and warned his party would resist any move to turn the state into a police state.
Political Accountability at Issue
Tejashwi also criticised the state's political leadership, alleging that neither Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary nor the Deputy Chief Ministers visited or enquired about the condition of injured students. He called on the Chief Minister to issue a public apology for the incident.
He noted that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav had raised the issue in Parliament. The RJD has reportedly reached out to leaders of several opposition parties, urging them to visit Bihar and stand in solidarity with the students.
Broader Stakes for Bihar Politics
The 19 August march is expected to sharpen the political confrontation over the student protests, placing the ruling coalition on the defensive ahead of any legislative session. Tejashwi argued that establishing clear accountability was essential to prevent similar police action against protesters in the future. He maintained that the RJD would keep the issue alive until those responsible are held to account.
This comes amid a wider pattern of opposition parties using student unrest as a political flashpoint in Bihar, a state where youth employment and examination integrity have repeatedly shaped electoral sentiment. The 19 August march will test how much street momentum the RJD can sustain beyond parliamentary statements.
Point of View
And the opposition knows that police action on young protesters carries disproportionate political weight in a state with a large first-time voter bloc. What is notable here is the specific demand around the AK-47 allegation in Siwan — if substantiated, it would represent a serious escalation of force that no government can easily explain away. The fact that only a constable has been suspended so far, while senior command accountability remains unaddressed, is the kind of institutional asymmetry that tends to fuel prolonged unrest rather than defuse it.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the RJD marching to Raj Bhavan on 19 August?
The RJD is marching to Raj Bhavan in Patna on 19 August to protest the alleged lathi-charge and firing on students who demonstrated over examination irregularities in Bihar. The party is demanding accountability from the state government for the police action.
Who will lead the RJD march in Patna?
RJD National Working President Tejashwi Yadav will lead the march, which will begin from the RJD office on Veerchand Patel Path and proceed to the Raj Bhavan. Party MLAs, MLCs, and workers are expected to participate.
What happened in Siwan that the RJD is raising?
Tejashwi Yadav has alleged that an AK-47 rifle was used during police action against student protesters in Siwan, Bihar. He has demanded clarity on who authorised the use of firearms and why senior officials have not been held accountable.
What action has the government taken so far?
According to Tejashwi Yadav, only a lower-ranking constable has been suspended following the incident. He alleged that despite assurances from the DGP that action would follow, no adequate steps have been taken against senior officials, including the SP.
Which other opposition leaders have raised this issue?
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav have reportedly raised the student protest issue in Parliament. The RJD has also reached out to other opposition leaders, urging them to visit Bihar in solidarity with the students.
