Patna, Aug 25 — Leader of the Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday sharply criticised the state government over the police lathi‑charge on protesting students in Patna, accusing the administration of adopting an authoritarian approach towards the youth.
In a social media post, Yadav invoked the Hindi saying “Chor Chori Se Jaye, Par Sinajori Se Na Jaye” (a thief may give up stealing, but not brazenness) to attack the Samrat Choudhary government.
He alleged that while the administration may have been forced to reconsider the use of firearms because of criticism and opposition pressure, it continued to rely on baton charges against protesters.
Yadav said students demanding transparency in examinations, employment opportunities, and improvements in education were being humiliated by officials instead of being invited to dialogue.
He claimed the government had directed police to use force against peaceful demonstrations and alleged that the administration’s attitude towards the student movement remained dictatorial.
He asserted that Bihar’s youth would not be intimidated by police action and accused the NDA government of attempting to suppress the student movement through “money and machinery.”
He urged the government to take the students’ demands seriously and engage with their representatives through dialogue.
Yadav further alleged that the government had previously faced criticism over the use of firearms during protests and suggested that, despite such pressure, the administration had not abandoned lathi‑charges.
His remarks came after a tense day of student demonstrations in Patna, during which protesters attempting to move towards Lok Bhavan confronted police barricades. Water cannons and lathi‑charges were used to disperse the crowd, while several protesters were detained.
Yadav's allegations are political claims reflecting his criticism of the state government; the circumstances surrounding the police action remain subject to the authorities’ account and investigation.