Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for the police response to student protests in Bihar. He questioned how the students’ broken bones could be healed but asked if their shattered dreams could ever be restored.
Gandhi shared a video from his recent meeting with students who had suffered “horrible police brutality” while protesting against alleged exam irregularities. In Hindi, he expressed outrage over the use of bullets, noting one student’s leg was fractured by an AK-47 bullet, destroying his dream of joining the army. He asked why these peaceful protesters were being treated so harshly when they only sought education, jobs, and accountability.
Gandhi emphasized the students were not criminals but children from poor families chasing their futures. He criticized the government’s response, saying injuries would heal but the fear caused by such violence could not be easily fixed. He demanded answers from Modi and Choudhary, asking if they could repair the students’ lost hopes.
The protests began in August and gained support from opposition leaders like Tejashwi Yadav of RJD. Earlier this month, police used water cannons and lathi charges to disperse protesters marching towards the Chief Minister’s residence. Gandhi had previously warned that suppressing young voices would not go unanswered.
Gandhi vowed to stand with the students and assist them in their struggle for fair opportunities and transparent exams. He accused the government of failing to address the issue, saying such brutality could not be blamed solely on low-ranking officials but pointed to a broader failure or higher orders.