Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Executive President and Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Tuesday, 19 May launched a blistering attack on the Bihar government led by Samrat Choudhary, accusing it of a wholesale failure to protect women in the state. Speaking at his official residence in Patna, Yadav announced a statewide agitation, pledging to take the fight from the Assembly to the streets.

Key Allegations

Yadav alleged that more than a month after the new government assumed office, incidents of rape, murder, and assault against women continue to rise unchecked across Bihar's districts. 'It has been more than a month, but the administration has utterly failed to control crimes against women. There is a noticeable rise in incidents of atrocities and rape,' he charged. He described the ruling dispensation as a 'selected government' and questioned its democratic accountability, accusing it of prioritising optics over governance — calling it a 'photoshoot government.'

Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case Raised

Invoking one of Bihar's most disturbing recent episodes, Yadav demanded accountability in the Muzaffarpur shelter home case, asking when justice would be delivered to survivors. He argued that the government's silence on such landmark cases reflects a deeper indifference to women's welfare. Notably, this is not the first time the opposition has used the shelter home case as a benchmark for measuring state accountability on women's safety — it has remained a recurring flashpoint in Bihar's political discourse since the scandal first broke.

Health and Welfare Concerns

Beyond law and order, Yadav raised alarms over women's health, claiming that a large proportion of women in Bihar suffer from anaemia and are not receiving adequate nutrition support. He alleged irregularities in welfare schemes, stating that financial assistance promised to women under various government programmes has not been disbursed. He criticised what he termed tokenism in the name of women's empowerment, accusing the government of making announcements without follow-through.

Agitation Announced

Several RJD leaders and members of the party's women's wing were present at the address. Yadav made clear that the party intends to escalate pressure on the government through a sustained campaign. 'We will raise these matters from the Assembly to the streets,' he said, signalling coordinated protests across the state. He also questioned the utilisation of public funds and demanded transparency on development works and policy implementation.

What Comes Next

The announcement of a statewide agitation sets up a direct confrontation between the RJD-led opposition and the Samrat Choudhary government in the weeks ahead. With the Bihar political calendar already charged, the opposition's focus on women's safety — backed by daily crime reports from multiple districts, according to Yadav — is likely to intensify scrutiny on the state administration's law-and-order record.