Amidst a fervent rally in Patna on Friday, April 11, 2025, police officers took decisive action to prevent Congress workers from reaching Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence. The event marked the culmination of the “Palayan roko, naukri do (stop migration, give jobs) pada-yatra,” a campaign orchestrated to galvanize the state’s youth on the pressing concerns of unemployment.
As the day unfolded, tension escalated when Congress members embarked on a march from the Sadaqat Ashram, the BPCC headquarters, only to be met with barricades at the Raja Pul crossing, a stone’s throw away. Determined to traverse the barriers and make their voices heard, the demonstrators encountered resistance from law enforcement personnel, who resorted to employing batons and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
The primary objective of the rally was to traverse the short distance to 1, Anne Marg, the residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, nestled within a high-security precinct with restricted access to the general public. The Congress workers aimed to deliver a memorandum, underscoring their demands and concerns regarding the prevailing state of unemployment in Bihar.
Congress Leaders’ Stirring Speeches
At the outset of the Sadaqat Ashram gathering, AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot and spokesperson Supriya Shrinate captivated the audience with impassioned speeches. Mr. Pilot, a seasoned former Union Minister, drew attention to the NDA’s governance in Bihar, likening it to a “double engine” that spewed smoke without propelling progress. He took a swipe at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of failing to secure adequate benefits for the state, despite his party’s pivotal role in the BJP’s central administration.
Amidst fervent applause and rallying cries, Mr. Pilot pledged that rectifying the substantial backlog of vacancies in government departments would be the top priority of the Mahagathbandhan if they assumed power in Bihar. The palpable energy and unity among Congress members underscored a collective determination to effect meaningful change and address the pervasive issue of unemployment.
Political Reactions and Controversies
In the aftermath of the rally, political reverberations echoed across Bihar, with JD(U) spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad asserting that the event posed a setback to RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav, who recently declared himself the chief ministerial candidate. Meanwhile, leaders of the NDA, including Union Minister Chirag Paswan, sounded alarm bells about the Congress’ ambitious maneuvers potentially straining ties with the RJD and precipitating a rupture before the impending polls.
Responding to mounting speculation and intrigue, Tejashwi Yadav deftly deflected attention, emphasizing his longstanding commitment to combatting Bihar’s unemployment crisis. His conciliatory remarks extended a hand of solidarity to other political factions mobilizing around the common cause of unemployment, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose amidst the charged political landscape.
As the dust settled on the rally in Patna, the reverberations of the day’s events continued to ripple through Bihar’s political sphere, underscoring the urgency and significance of addressing the pressing issue of unemployment. The spirited display of civic engagement and political fervor illuminated the collective aspirations and demands of the people, serving as a poignant reminder of the power of grassroots movements to effect transformative change in society.
