On Thursday, members of the Bihar Congress gathered in Patna to demonstrate against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, demanding a review of recent electoral decisions. The protest, organized by the state party unit, turned confrontational when police officers opened fire with water cannons to disperse the marchers.
Congress leaders began the rally outside the state secretariat, chanting slogans that accused the CEC of partiality in the upcoming assembly elections. Speakers highlighted perceived irregularities in the voter‑list revision process and called for Kumar’s resignation. The crowd, estimated at several hundred, moved towards the office of the Election Commission, intent on presenting a petition.
Law enforcement officials, citing concerns over public order, formed a barricade and ordered the demonstrators to halt. When the procession ignored the warning, officers activated water‑cannon units, drenching participants and forcing the march to break up. Several activists sustained minor injuries from the high‑pressure spray, and a few were briefly detained for questioning.
In a statement released after the incident, the Bihar Congress condemned the police action as “excessive” and urged the state government to intervene. The party also demanded an immediate inquiry into the CEC’s conduct, asserting that the alleged bias could undermine the credibility of the forthcoming polls.
Police spokespersons defended their response, stating that the water cannons were employed as a non‑lethal measure to prevent a breach of security. They added that the deployment was in line with standard crowd‑control protocols.
The episode has reignited debate over the independence of the Election Commission and the role of law‑enforcement agencies in managing political protests ahead of the state elections.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: The Hindu National