A Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was killed on Thursday as Patna Police lathicharged several party workers who were protesting against the Bihar government over the posting of teachers in the state. In addition to the death caused by the police, it is also claimed that several other workers have also been injured as a result of the lathicharge and the use of water cannons.
The deceased BJP leader has been identified as Vijay Kumar Singh. He died on the Dakbangla Chauraha in the city amidst the protests. He also taken to the hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival. This news was confirmed by Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi on Twitter. Various videos have also come up showing the force used by the Patna police.
Following the incident, BJP chief JP Nadda took to Twitter and said, “The lathi-charge on BJP workers in Patna is a result of the failure and incompetence of the state government”. “The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) government is attacking democracy in order to protect the fortress of corruption. The chief minister of Bihar has forgotten his own morality to save the person who is facing charges,” JP Nadda added.
“It is so unfortunate that one of our party workers died due to a lathi charge by the police. He died on the way to the hospital. We will lodge murder charges against the police. Nitish Kumar is responsible for all this,” Former Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.
Meanwhile, the Bihar Education Department issued an order announcing a ban on leaves by education department officials for the next week and also said that any education official who wants a leave under special circumstances will have to seek permission from Deputy Secretary KK Pathak.
The BJP’s protest which started at Gandhi Maidan in Patna is against the corruption and the Bihar government doing away with the domicile requirement in the recruitment of teachers. BJP also got more ammunition against the corruption charges after Tejaswi Yadav was named by the CBI in its chargesheet in respect to the lands for jobs scam.
