Patna: The Patna district administration has rejected the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) application for staging demonstration at Gandhi maidan, in protest against the Centre’s farm laws, which have triggered massive outrage across the country.
RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Friday announced its support to the farmers protesting in and around Delhi seeking repeal of the three recent farm laws and decided to stage a dharna near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhi maidan on Saturday.
Kumar Ravi, District Magistrate of Patna told IANS that dharna inside Gandhi maidan is not allowed.
“Hence, we have rejected the application of RJD. We only allow an individual to pay respect at Mahatma Gandhi statue. For dharna, we have already allocated place at Gardanibagh locality.”
As they were denied permission of holding a protest, RJD leaders have started demonstration at the maidan’s gate.
RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said: “We have staged dharnas in the past. If the district administration can give us permission of political rallies which have a large magnitude, why we are being denied permission of holding a stir?
It is a Tuglaki government’s rule in state which is making all possible efforts to suppress the voice of opposition parties and farmers of the country. We will not allow them to do so.”
Tejashwi attacks Nitish for denial
Tejashwi Yadav attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and said: “Followers of Nathuram Godse arrived in Patna and compassionate CM Nitish Kumar Kumar has held the statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside Gandhi Maidan captive to please them so that followers of Gandhi ideology would not take oath to support farmers.”
“I am reaching there. If you are capable, stop me,” Tejashwi said in a tweet.
The dharna at Gandhi Maidan was scheduled to be held from 10 a.m. on Saturday. As the permission was not given by the District Magistrate, Tejashwi Yadav did not reach the venue till 11.45 a.m.
