RJD announces statewide protests in Bihar over inflation, corruption

Patna: The RJD on Wednesday announced statewide protests at all block headquarters on June 9 and at district headquarters on June 17, citing issues such as inflation, unemployment, alleged corruption, and deteriorating law and order.

State president Mangani Lal Mandal made the announcement at a press conference attended by party national vice-president Uday Narayan Chaudhary, state vice-president Tanveer Hasan, principal general secretary Ranvijay Sahu, chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, and spokespersons Ejaz Ahmad and Arun Kumar Yadav.

Targeting the state govt, Mandal alleged the administration relied on rhetoric and force, and said governance gaps were adding to people’s hardships.

Referring to a CAG report on Bihar, he claimed the govt had not accounted for Rs72,000 crore and alleged silence on financial irregularities and crimes. He demanded clarification on how the irregularity occurred, where the money went, and who was responsible.

On inflation, Mandal said rising petrol and diesel prices were increasing freight costs, and alleged Bihar imposed the highest VAT and surcharge, calling it unjust. He also accused the govt of ignoring farmers’ issues and said it should curb inflation, eliminate corruption, improve law and order, and address public grievances.

Mandal alleged a rise in crimes against women and minor girls after the elections and said that the govt had failed to prevent such incidents.

He also flagged regional imbalance in development and demanded data on landless and homeless families, details of distribution of three-decimal land to landless households over the past 12 years under the Centre and 20 years under the state govt, and information on parcha holders given possession, including cases where allotted land was allegedly occupied by “feudal elements”.

On poverty estimates, Mandal accused the govt of presenting misleading figures and claimed Bihar had the highest number of people below the poverty line, alleging the absence of effective welfare schemes.

He said the June 9 protests would mark the first phase, followed by district-level protests on June 17, with further agitation, including dharna, demonstrations and arrests, to be announced later.