Student Protests in Patna Spark Violence and Legislative Deadlock

Hundreds of student activists from the All India Students' Association clashed with police in Patna on Wednesday to demand the resignations of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Protesters cited paper leaks in the NEET exam and police repression of agitations at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as the primary drivers for their march. Police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and batons to block a march toward Lok Bhavan, while some demonstrators pelted stones at vehicles and the state BJP headquarters. The unrest forced the sealing of the Bihar assembly premises, trapping legislators inside for roughly one hour.

The conflict transitioned into the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council on July 23, where ruling National Democratic Alliance and Opposition members clashed over the events. Opposition members from the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress demanded the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing the government of using excessive force against students.

Conversely, NDA legislators characterized the demonstrations as a sponsored effort infiltrated by political goons. BJP members reported physical assaults on legislators, which led Speaker Prem Kumar and Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh to adjourn proceedings. Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary promised a thorough investigation to identify the anti-social elements responsible for the violence.