Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Union government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the reported use of an AK-47 rifle during police action against protesting students in Bihar's Siwan district. The criticism came after a video purportedly showing a police constable carrying and firing an AK-47 during a student protest went viral on social media, triggering widespread political reactions.
In a post on X, Kejriwal questioned the use of such force against students and asked whether they were being treated like terrorists. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he wrote, "Don't mess with students," while taking a swipe by referring to him as "Emperor Modi." Kejriwal alleged that the government had crossed the line by allowing the use of a military-grade weapon during a civilian protest and urged authorities to protect the democratic rights of students.
The controversy stems from protests held in Siwan on July 25 over alleged examination irregularities and the anti-paper leak movement. During the demonstrations, a police constable attached to the District Intelligence Unit was allegedly seen firing an AK-47 into the air. Following the circulation of the video, Bihar Police suspended the constable and initiated a departmental inquiry. Senior police officials said the use of the weapon was unnecessary and that the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.
The incident has intensified the political debate over the handling of student protests in Bihar. Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, have also criticised the alleged use of excessive force and demanded accountability from the state government. They questioned who authorised the deployment of an AK-47 during a protest involving students and called for a thorough probe into the matter.
The row comes amid nationwide protests over alleged examination paper leaks and demands for reforms in the public examination system. As Parliament prepares to debate the proposed anti-paper leak legislation, the incident in Bihar has further fuelled concerns over the government's response to student demonstrations. While the Bihar Police inquiry is underway, the political confrontation over the incident is expected to continue in the coming days.
