Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday, 19 August led his party in a march to Raj Bhavan in Patna, demanding accountability from the Bihar government over recurring paper leak scandals and the alleged firing on student protesters in Siwan last month. The march drew students, teachers, coaching institute pupils, and youth frustrated with what Yadav described as a broken examination and employment system.

Key Demands

Yadav trained his fire on the BJP-led state government over what he called a 'deteriorating' law and order situation, alleging that competitive examinations — from matriculation and intermediate boards to government recruitment tests — have been repeatedly compromised by paper leaks and irregularities. He demanded that the government explain who ordered police to fire on students agitating against paper leaks in Siwan, reportedly using an AK-47 rifle. 'Bihar is gaining a bad reputation due to recurring paper leak incidents,' Yadav said.

Siwan Firing: Accountability in Question

Yadav alleged that when students took to the streets in Siwan to protest paper leaks, the state government chose force over dialogue. He said the matter has been escalated with Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar, questioning why no senior official has been held accountable. According to Yadav, not a single constable has been dismissed in connection with the incident, and no action has been taken against other responsible officials.

Jobs Promise and Liquor Ban Under Fire

The RJD leader also renewed his attack on the government's unfulfilled promise of one crore jobs, claiming the administration has not even delivered one lakh jobs. He further targeted the state's liquor prohibition policy, alleging it has 'completely failed' with home delivery of alcohol reportedly taking place on the ground — a stark contrast, he argued, to the government's official position that the ban remains effective.

Broad Coalition, National Outreach

Yadav said the Raj Bhavan march was designed to be inclusive, welcoming leaders from other states to participate. The coalition of students, educators, and job-seekers signals an attempt to frame the issue as a governance failure with national resonance, not merely a local political contest. Notably, this is part of a pattern of Opposition-led pressure marches in Bihar ahead of the next electoral cycle.

With the march now underway, pressure mounts on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's government to respond to the twin crises of examination integrity and alleged police excess — both of which have become potent political flashpoints in the state.