NSUI national in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar and others being detained amid an attempt by Congress members to 'gherao' Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence during the party's 'Palayan Roko, Naukri Do' yatra, in Patna, Friday, April 11, 2025.
Credit: PTI Photo
Patna: Congress leader and NSUI (National Students’ Union of India) in-charge, Kanhaiya Kumar, was detained on Friday in Patna when he, along with Youth Congress national president Uday Bhan and his supporters, were on the way to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Police had to resort to a lathi-charge and use water cannons when the Congress delegation was marching towards Nitish’s residence.
The face-off between the police and the Congress leaders took place when the Congressmen were taking out a protest march against the Nitish regime’s inability to provide jobs to youths.
The police stopped them near CM’s residence. Following an altercation with the cops, the police had to use mild lathi-charge and water cannons to disperse them before apprehending Kanhaiya and 30 others.
Later, Kanhaiya was released from detention.
“We do not want latching or water cannons. All we want is for water should come into our taps. We do not want water to be sprayed on us but want water under the ‘Nal Jal Yojna’ (drinking water scheme) to work properly so that people get water in their homes. When the Government does not provide water in taps, then it uses water cannons on students and youths,” said Kanhaiya while being apprehended.
The former JNUSU (Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union) president, Kanhaiya, who embarked on his ‘Palayan roko, naukri do’ (stop migration, give jobs) padyatra at Bhitiharwa Ashram in Champaran on March 16, ended his march today after covering many districts and several hundred kilometres. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, too, had joined Kanhaiya on April 7.
Earlier, Kanhaiya took on the BJP top leadership and highlighted how the saffron camp’s jibe on dynasty was a false narrative. “Amit Shah made his son BCCI secretary and then ICC chief. What was his qualification other than that he is the son of the Union Home Minister? Is this not a dynasty?” said Kanhaiya while dwelling at length about the BJP leaders whose fathers or mothers have held important positions in the saffron brigade.
The Congress is using Kanhaiya Kumar’s oratory to find a foot in Bihar, where it ruled till March 1990 but has been out of power for the last 35 years. Bihar will have an Assembly election in October and November this year, where the Congress and the RJD, backed by Left, will take on the BJP-led NDA.