Violence mars Nitish's Adhikar yatra - Times of India

ARA/GAYA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's 'Adhikar Yatra' meetings at Ara and Buxar on Sunday were cancelled in view of the violence in the state's Madhubani district on Saturday. The 'Adhikar Yatra' of Nitish slated for Sunday at Veer Kuer Singh stadium located at Ramana Maidan was cancelled at the last minute. This was the second time the CM cancelled his visit to Ara. Earlier, he had to cancel his 'Seva Yatra' in June after the murder of Ranvir Sena founder Brahmeshwar Singh. Adhikar Yatra's cancellation was confirmed by Ara SDO Dharmesh Kumar Singh.

A 24-year-old man critically-injured in Saturday's police firing in Madhubani district succumbed to his injuries on Sunday and the news acted as a catalyst for fresh protests in the restive region.

The entire Ara town had been cordoned off for the meeting. The CM had to address a public meeting first but later it was converted into a JD-U workers' meet. Congress leaders led by Sridhar Tiwari and Pramod Kumar Rai took out a procession despite heavy security. It passed through the main thoroughfares of the town and terminated near the meeting place where they burnt the CM's effigy.

Addressing the people, they said the CM had developed an authoritarian streak hence the people had protested everywhere he went. They questioned the misuse of public money on the workers' meeting of a political party and demanded inquiry into its expenditure. RJD MLA from Jagdishpur Bhai Dinesh said the CM should resign immediately. Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad convenor Amrendra Shakarwar, while condemning the firing at Madhubani, said anarchy had reached its peak in the NDA regime.

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Sunday visited Paraiya, the scene of recent violent clashes between the CPI (M-L) activists and the police following alleged delay in the lodging of a gang-rape FIR and inaction against the culprits.

Expressing solidarity with the people in their fight against 'police brutality and injustice', the RJD chief said instead of punishing the rape case accused, the state machinery has been let loose on protestors against injustice. Addressing an impressive public meeting there, Lalu said women and weaker sections had become vulnerable to all kinds of atrocities including gang-rape, molestation and physical assault. The RJD chief ridiculed 'sushasan' claims of CM Nitish Kumar, adding Nitish appears to have lost control and police have become tyrannical and insensitive.