RJD leaders on Saturday staged a guard at former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi's residence at 10, Circular Road in Patna, asserting that her recently downgraded security has been 'returned'. The move came after reports emerged that the state government had reduced her security cover, prompting outrage among party workers.
Party Workers Gather in Support
Several RJD leaders and supporters gathered outside Rabri Devi's home, forming a human chain to demonstrate solidarity. Senior RJD leader Abha Lata arrived later in the day and engaged in a video call with Rabri Devi, showing her the crowd that had assembled at the gate. The former Chief Minister was seen acknowledging the support from her residence.
Claims of Security Restoration
The RJD leaders claimed that the downgraded security has been effectively restored due to their intervention. They alleged that the decision to reduce security was politically motivated and part of a larger conspiracy by the ruling party to target opposition leaders. Rabri Devi, who served as Chief Minister of Bihar from 1999 to 2005, had been provided with Z-plus security cover earlier, which was reportedly reduced to Z category recently.
The party has demanded a thorough review of the security assessment and accused the state government of undermining the safety of former constitutional authorities. The incident has sparked a fresh political row in Bihar, with the RJD accusing the ruling coalition of using security downgrades as a tool to intimidate opponents.
Meanwhile, police officials stated that the security arrangements are based on threat perception assessments and denied any political interference. They confirmed that the current security cover for Rabri Devi remains as per the guidelines. The situation at her residence remained peaceful, with RJD leaders maintaining a vigil while party workers dispersed later in the evening.
