Bihar: RJD protests price rise, unemployment

PATNA: A large number of RJD workers on the call of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav took out processions, organised dharnas and burnt effigies of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar at the block headquarters across the state on Sunday on the first day of their two-day 'halla bol' agitation to protest against soaring prices and unemployment in the country.
The agitation started early in the morning with the party workers taking out processions on bullock carts carrying LPG cylinders and household utensils. They also carried posters, banners and shouted slogans against the central government and the state government demanding remedial measures to check the rising prices.
Later they sat on a dharna at the block headquarters, which subsequently turned into a meeting. The meeting was addressed by senior leaders of the party, who called upon the people to come out in the open to vent their ire against the government. “For how long will you continue to suffer due to the price rise?,” they asked.
RJD state secretary Chandeshwar Prasad Singh said the workers burnt effigy of PM Narendra Modi at Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan in the state capital under the banner of Patna Mahanagar and Sadar block unit of the party. RJD national general secretary Shyam Rajak led the protest march under the Phulwarisharif block in Patna district.
RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari termed Sunday’s agitation as a historic one and claimed that it received massive support from the people. “The resentment over price rise, unemployment, corruption and poverty is palpable on the faces of the masses,” he added.
Tiwari alleged that while the poor were becoming poorer, the corporate houses were becoming wealthier during the NDA rule both at the centre and the state.
At some places, the activists of Left parties, which are allies of the RJD, also lent their support. Tiwari said that the protest would be held at district headquarters on Monday.
On Saturday Lalu said that he was giving a matra to deal with the price rise and other ills plaguing the country during the NDA rule. Lalu tweeted, “NDA hatao, mahangai ghatao (remove NDA, reduce prices).”
The RJD launched the agitation a day after a similar protest was organised by the Congress on the same issue. Congress leaders had taken out a cycle rally on Saturday to expose the government.