Opposition Leaders Launch Fierce Attack on Bihar Government Following MP's Arrest
In a significant political development, opposition leaders mounted sharp and sustained attacks on the Bihar government throughout Saturday. This coordinated criticism followed the dramatic arrest of Pappu Yadav, the Independent Member of Parliament from Purnia, whose legal name is Rajesh Ranjan. The opposition has framed this arrest as a deliberate attempt to suppress voices demanding justice for a tragic case involving a medical aspirant.
Rahul Gandhi Condemns "Political Vendetta" Against Vocal MP
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wasted no time in responding to the detention, describing the police action as a clear act of political vendetta. Taking to his social media platforms, Gandhi emphasized that Pappu Yadav had emerged as one of the strongest and most persistent voices seeking justice for the NEET aspirant whose death occurred under mysterious circumstances at a private girls' hostel in Patna last month.
"His arrest today is clearly an act of political vendetta, aimed at intimidating and silencing every voice that demands accountability," Gandhi wrote in a strongly worded post. He further alleged that the handling of the entire case exposed what he called "the deep rot in the system" and followed a familiar pattern of behavior.
The Congress leader elaborated that when the victim's family courageously demanded a fair investigation and proper justice, the ruling establishment deployed what he termed "the same old BJP-NDA playbook" – derailing the case, harassing the family members, and using state power to shield the actual culprits. Gandhi concluded that this incident pointed toward "a terrifying conspiracy and a dangerous pattern" that threatens democratic principles.
Priyanka Gandhi Questions Motives Behind Midnight Arrest
Adding her voice to the growing chorus of condemnation, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed deep concern over the arrest. She described the alleged rape and murder of the young medical aspirant as profoundly shocking and questioned the timing and nature of the police action against Pappu Yadav, who had been repeatedly raising this sensitive issue in the public domain.
"From the registration of the FIR to the investigation and subsequent action, everything was made suspicious. Who is all this being done to protect?" she asked pointedly. Priyanka Gandhi directly accused the BJP and its political allies of systematically shielding the culprits in this and similar cases across the country.
Drawing historical parallels, she alleged, "From Hathras and Unnao to Ankita Bhandari and now Patna, wherever atrocities against women occur, BJP governments consistently stand with the accused instead of delivering swift and fair justice to the victims." Her statement reinforced the opposition's narrative of systemic failure in addressing crimes against women under the current administration.
CPI(ML) Leader Decries "Vindictive" Police Action
The criticism extended beyond the Congress party, with CPI(ML) state secretary Kunal providing additional context and condemnation. He characterized Yadav's arrest as "vindictive" and "vengeful," directly linking it to the MP's vocal and persistent criticism of the police handling of the medical aspirant's case. According to Kunal, the arrest was executed in a particularly concerning manner.
The CPI(ML) leader revealed that Pappu Yadav was arrested late on Friday night in connection with a three-decade-old case dating back 31 years. "What the police did was a blatant misuse of its power. They arrived at his residence to arrest him without any prior information or formal notice, and he was taken into custody at midnight," Kunal stated, highlighting what he viewed as procedural irregularities.
He framed the incident in broader democratic terms, asserting, "It is a case of direct attack by the police on the democratic rights of the people. This action sets a dangerous precedent for how dissent is handled in our democracy." The timing and method of the arrest, according to opposition figures, suggest an intention to stifle political opposition rather than pursue genuine legal accountability.
The arrest has thus ignited a major political controversy in Bihar, with opposition parties unifying around the narrative that the state government is using law enforcement agencies to target political critics and suppress demands for justice in a sensitive criminal case. The developments underscore deepening political tensions in the state ahead of crucial electoral cycles.
