Permission denied for Rahul Gandhi's programme in Bihar's Darbhanga: Congress

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been "denied permission" to interact with students in Darbhanga district of Bihar on Thursday, 15 May, the party alleged.

Addressing a press conference at Sadaqat Ashram, the BPCC headquarters, on Wednesday, AICC national media convenor Abhay Dubey alleged that the "repressive" step was taken at the instance of the state's ruling JD(U)-BJP combine.

"The district welfare officer in Darbhanga has written to us informing that it will not grant permission for the programme on 15 May. No reason has been given. It seems a repressive measure taken at the behest of the state's ruling JD(U)-BJP combine," Dubey said.

In a post on X, Congress said, "Better education is the right of the students, it is the means for them to progress and shape their future, which is constantly being snatched away from the students of Bihar."

आज नेता विपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi बिहार के दरभंगा में होने वाले 'शिक्षा न्याय संवाद' में छात्रों से मिलने वाले थे।

लेकिन..

बिहार की 'डबल इंजन' सरकार से ये बर्दाश्त न हुआ। सरकार ने आयोजन स्थल पर पुलिस भेजकर तोड़फोड़ करवाई और छात्रों को जबरदस्ती वापस भेजा गया।

बेहतर शिक्षा… pic.twitter.com/HbP1JmztAk

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 15, 2025

Gandhi was scheduled to interact with Dalit students at the Ambedkar hostel in Darbhanga, as part of "Shiksha Nyay Samvad", a state-wide public outreach programme.

Asked whether the leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha was calling off his Bihar tour in view of the development, Dubey said, "We have urged the Darbhanga administration to review their decision. We hope good sense will prevail".

Rahul Gandhi's programme was aimed at creating public awareness, he said.

"It is unfortunate that his efforts are being viewed through the prism of politics. Be that as it may, he remains resolute in pushing the cause of social justice, of which education is an important component," added Dubey.

Replying to a query, he said he was unaware of Gandhi's plan to visit Patna.

Earlier, AICC Bihar in-charge Krishna Allavaru had told reporters at the airport here that besides attending the programme in Darbhanga, Rahul Gandhi was likely to watch "Phule", the biopic based on the lives of Dalit icon couple Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule, at a theatre in the state capital.

With PTI inputs