Patna march for CEC's resignation ends in clashes; CPI delegation meets Governor
A CPI-led march in Patna demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and cancellation of the SIR of electoral rolls was stopped by police, leading to clashes and detentions.
A protest march in Patna demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the cancellation of the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls ended in clashes with the police on Monday, with a delegation of demonstrators later submitting a memorandum of their demands to the Governor.
The march, organised by the Communist Party of India along with several other organisations, set out from Gandhi Maidan towards Patna Lok Bhavan. Police halted it at Dak Bungalow Crossing, roughly 5.5 km from the Governor's residence, where barricades, water cannon vehicles and additional personnel had been positioned in advance. Clashes broke out as protesters tried to push past the barricades.
Among those taking part were the students' organisation of the Bihar University of Health Sciences, the All India Students Federation, the All India Youth Federation, Bihar Mahila Samaj, Bihar State Kisan Sabha, the All India Trade Union Congress and Tanzeem-e-Insaaf. BUHS students joined to press grievances over what they described as delays in academic sessions and financial irregularities at the institute; some of them, in white coats, were seen dancing in the spray from a water cannon.
The charter of demands included Mr. Kumar's resignation, scrapping of the SIR process, repeal of the Waqf Amendment Act, restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act with 200 days of guaranteed work and minimum wages, a comprehensive central law for agricultural labourers, and an end to the privatisation of public sector assets.
CPI general secretary D. Raja condemned the police action in a post on X, saying lathis, water cannons and arrests were used against a 20,000-strong march, and that hundreds were detained, including CPI national secretaries Dr. Girish and Sanjay Kumar. Dr. Girish was injured in the lathi-charge, he said, adding that the demand for the CEC's resignation comes amid questions over the SIR, deletions from electoral rolls, and objections recorded by Election Commissioners themselves.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma said some "anti-social elements" had mixed with the protesters and clashed with police, indulging in stone-pelting in which some people were injured. Traffic at the crossing was completely paralysed by the protest, he added. The SSP was seen coordinating security arrangements for the demonstration along with other senior police officials.