Bihar Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Monday, 17 August demanded that the Bihar government erect a statue of Dashrath Manjhi — widely revered as the 'Mountain Man' — in Patna and establish an ashram in his name, as the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) marked the 19th Mahaparinirvan Diwas of the legendary Dalit icon at a tribute meeting held at the party's Patna office.

Tribute Meeting and Community Participation

The memorial programme drew RJD leaders, party workers, and a significant number of people from Dalit and Mahadalit communities. Yadav presided over the event, which was held to honour Manjhi's legacy — a man who single-handedly carved a road through a mountain in Gehlaur, Bihar, to give his village access to the outside world. The gathering underscored the continued political salience of Dalit identity in Bihar's electoral calculus.

Corruption Allegations Against Bihar Government

Yadav used the occasion to sharpen his attack on the ruling dispensation, alleging widespread corruption and administrative inaction. Referring to what he described as the 'dustbin scam,' he claimed irregularities had surfaced across multiple other matters as well, yet no effective action had been taken against those responsible. 'People involved in corruption are receiving protection from those in power,' he alleged, arguing that this shielding had resulted in systemic inaction.

He also questioned the state's financial health, claiming Bihar was struggling to meet basic obligations. 'This government has become completely poor. The government is not able to pay salaries and is not able to give pensions either,' Yadav said.

Raj Bhavan March Planned for August 19

Yadav announced that the RJD would lead an open march to Raj Bhavan on 19 August, urging people to participate in large numbers. The march is intended to raise issues concerning students and what Yadav called the unacceptable AK-47 rifle firing incident during a student protest in Siwan. Party leaders and workers plan to meet the Governor and submit a formal memorandum outlining their demands.

AK-47 Incident in Siwan: Background

The Siwan incident, which occurred during a student protest, drew sharp criticism after a constable was seen on video firing an AK-47 rifle. Yadav had raised the matter on social media and separately submitted a memorandum to Bihar Director General of Police Vinay Kumar, demanding action against senior officials. However, authorities reportedly suspended only the constable captured in the footage, a response Yadav and the RJD have described as inadequate. The episode has become a flashpoint in the opposition's broader campaign against law-and-order failures in the state.

With the 19 August march approaching, the RJD's dual focus — Dalit dignity and governance accountability — signals an intensifying pressure campaign against the Bihar government in the months ahead.