Arson, vandalism rock Bihar during dawn-to-dusk protest

The dawn-to-dusk shutdown call in Bihar against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CCA) and the National Register for Citizens (NRC) resulted in massive protests across the state, triggering traffic jams, and cases of vandalism and arson on Thursday (December 19).

In view of the protests, the state government had ordered all schools to be shut down on Thursday.

Angry protesters staged sit-ins on roads, blocked railway tracks and forced closure of business establishments across the state. TV grabs also showed some protesters resorting to vandalism and smashing the window panes of the vehicles at a few places.

Beating drums, shouting slogans and carrying party flags and placards in their hands, the protesters walked the streets to register their protest and convey their message to the government.

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The bandh called by the Left parties received support from 11 students’ organisations and several other opposition parties, including the main opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Rashtriya Lok Samata party (RLSP), Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) and Vikashsil Insan Party (VIP). RJD is led by prominent Indian politician Lalu Prasad Yadav, RLSP by former union minister Upendra Kushwah, HAM by former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, JAP by former parliamentarian Pappu Yaddav and VIP by Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni.

The Grand Alliance’s largest constituent RJD extended “moral support” to the bandh though its cadre stayed away from enforcing the same, saying they have called a shutdown against the amended Citizenship Act and proposed nationwide NRC on Saturday, December 21. Other constituents of the coalition Congress, RLSP and HAM had on Wednesday pledged support to both the shutdowns though not much active participation was seen from them.

In Patna, the JAP remained in the spotlight as it took the lead in vandalizing buses and cars, burning tyres on the roads to obstruct movement of vehicles and squatting on railway tracks to prevent trains from running on time. The JAP activists also came up with several camera-friendly forms of protest. Some of the male activists donned saris and gyrated lustily to the tunes of ribald Bhojpuri numbers on the Mahatma Gandhi Setu across the Ganges that connects the capital city to north Bihar, while many others demonstrated on the streets bare-chested notwithstanding the chilly weather.

The burning of tyres by protesters at several city stretches led to heavy traffic jam at Patna’s Gandhi Setu connecting south Bihar with North Bihar. This was the longest bridge over river when it was inaugurated in 1984.

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Although residents complained of facing inconvenience due to traffic jams, protesters said it was in the interest of the society itself. “Jab loktantra hi na bachega to log kahan bachnege (where is the question of a man’s survival when the democracy itself remains in danger)?” asked a protester.

“The ruling regime is constantly encroaching upon the democratic rights of the common men. Our national integrity is in danger. Our Constitution is danger. In such a situation, is it proper to stay silent?’ asked another protester.

Concerted protests took place across the state, although the government had claimed of having made elaborate security arrangements to avoid law and order situations and warned of punitive actions for those breaking laws and damaging government property.

Citizens were bemused to see Sanjay Paswan, an outspoken MLC of the BJP, hitting the streets along with scores of supporters. “I am carrying out this demonstration in protest against attempts by the opposition to mislead the nation on issues like CAA and NRC. It is our duty to caution the people against these elements,” Paswan told reporters.

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They were joined by members of several Muslim organizations, who carried the tricolor and pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru and raised slogans accusing the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of reneging on the ideals espoused by the country’s founding fathers.

In Begusarai, a former Left bastion, which is currently the Lok Sabha constituency of Union minister Giriraj Singh, scores of women donning burqas hit the streets carrying huge banners with “save the Constitution, save the country” inscribed thereon.

In Bhagalpur, a communally sensitive town known for its silk industry, bandh supporters burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Long queues of stranded vehicles were seen on national highways close to Muzaffarpur, Begusarai and Jehanabad where police personnel had a tough time convincing the bandh supporters, many of whom had placed heaps of burning tyres on the roads, to allow the plying of cars, buses and trucks.

“Rail traffic has been normal barring one or two stray incidents,” the East Central Railway headquartered at Hajipur said in a statement.

But the administration’s test is still not over as another ‘Bihar Bandhi’ too is scheduled on December 21. This bandh call has been given by the RJD.

(With inputs from agencies)