The Modi government's Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the Army has shocked and shaken the youth in Bihar and across the country. News of young people's suicides is coming in from some parts of the country. After 2 days of protests the government gave a mere assurance of extending the age limit just for the current year.
Sena Bharti Jawan Morcha convener and popular youth leader Raju Yadav, RYA National President and Agiaon MLA Manoj Manzil, AISA General Secretary and Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurabh, RYA Bihar State Honorary President and Dumraon MLA Ajit Kushwaha, RYA State President Aftab Alam, State Secretary Shiv Prakash Ranjan, AISA State Secretary Sabir Kumar and State President Vikas Yadav announced for a Bihar Bandh on 18 June, which was also supported by the Mahagathbandhan parties including RJD, CPIML, CPI and CPIM. They appealed to the people of Bihar to actively support the Bandh to save the Army and the future of young people.
Lathi Charge in Patna During Bihar Bandh: Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurav Arrested
The Bihar Police resorted to brutal lathi charge in Patna during the Bihar Bandh on 18 June. Various student-youth organizations commenced a march from Patna University Gate led by AISA General Secretary and Paliganj MLA Sandeep Saurav, RYA National General Secretary Neeraj Kumar, AISA Bihar President Vikas Yadav, AISA leader Kumar Divyam and other leaders. The police stopped the march at Kargil Chowk. The Bandh supporters wanted to move towards the Dak Bangla crossing but the police resorted to lathi charge to stop them and then arrested Sandeep Saurabh, Vikas Yadav, Kumar Divyam, Abhishek Chandan and Ashish Kumar, lifting them forcibly from the street and taking them to Gandhi Maidan Thana.
Sandeep Saurav condemned this action by the police-administration shameful and said that they had come to put demands peacefully in front of the government. The entire country is witnessing the anger of students and youth against the Agnipath scheme that will push youth into unemployment and endanger national security. But instead of scrapping it the Modi government is trying to mislead the country by making small changes in the scheme. This will never be tolerated.
Shops and commercial establishments in Patna and most other towns in the state remained closed on 18 June, traffic was sparse and attendance in government offices was also less. The Bandh received extensive support from the people amidst imposition of Section 144, obstructing internet services in many districts and huge deployment of police forces. Reports of arrests have also come from Hilsa and Betia. The police in Nawada did not even allow Bandh supporters to come out on the streets, despite which the Bandh had an extensive effect.
The Bandh was effective in Ara which has emerged as the centre of this movement. Led by MLA Manoj Manzil, Raju Yadav, Sabir Kumar and Shiv Prakash Ranjan, students and youth organized a march culminating in a meeting near the Railway Station and pledged to carry on the fight till the Modi government scraps the Agnipath scheme.
The Bandh was also effective in Muzaffarpur where the Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga NH 57 was blocked for 3 hours at Bochahan. A massive rally was organized by AISA-RYA in the city. Protests, marches, road blocks and meetings were also held in Siwan led by MLA Amarjeet Kushwaha, Buxar, Darbhanga, Madhepura, Arwal, Jehanabad, Bhagalpur, Purnea, Madhubani, Motihari, Kaimur, Beguserai and other Districts, making the Bandh effective.
The Bihar Bandh received widespread support from the people despite imposition of Section 144 to stop protests, shutting down internet in many parts of the state and heavy deployment of police force. Patna and many other cities remained closed spontaneously. There is news from many places of protesters being arrested. The arrest and repression of protesters who had come to peacefully put their demands in front of the government is condemnable.
