RJD’s march is against ‘dictatorship of the Bihar government’, Lalu says

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) plans to march to the Lok Bhavan in Patna on August 19, 2026, to protest against the "dictatorship" of the Bihar government, according to veteran party leader Lalu Prasad. The march, which will be joined by Mahagathbandhan allies, aims to submit a memorandum to the Governor regarding their demands.

Students in Bihar have faced various issues, including paper leaks, a poor education system, biased recruitment processes, unemployment, and police brutality. The RJD has specifically demanded the suspension of the former Siwan Superintendent of Police, Puran Kumar Jha, who was involved in the firing of an AK-47 rifle at protesting students on July 25, 2026.

Jha was ordered to report to the State Police headquarters for further instructions, while Bharat Soni, the Nalanda SP, has been transferred to Siwan. Eighteen other policemen connected with the incident have also received transfer orders. The Opposition party had sought Jha's suspension, not just a transfer, emphasizing their plan to march to the Lok Bhavan.

Abhishek Kumar, who fired the AK-47 rifle, has been removed from his position. The Bihar Police informed the Supreme Court that the constable "trapped" in the crowd during the protests fired four rounds in the air. Student organizations had staged demonstrations against NEET-UG paper leaks and police actions on July 25 and July 20, 2026.

Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav highlighted the "complete collapse" of the examination system and law and order in the state, calling for accountability and justice for the students. A high-level inquiry into the firing incident against students was also demanded by Tejashwi Yadav and a delegation of party leaders after meeting the Director General of Police on August 7, 2026.