Patna: A statewide bandh called by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Thursday brought large parts of Bihar to a standstill, with highways blocked in at least 12 districts, as supporters protested against remarks made about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother during a political rally.
Traffic was paralysed in Samastipur, Begusarai, Chhapra, Hajipur and Darbhanga, where long queues of vehicles formed on national highways. In Patna, security was tightened around Congress and RJD offices, with more than 2,000 police personnel deployed across the city.
The bandh was announced after Modi’s mother was allegedly insulted from the stage during the Voter Adhikar Yatra of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav in Darbhanga on August 27. Police later arrested Mohammad Rizvi, a local puncture shop owner, in connection with the incident.
Protests turned tense in several places. In Patna, arson was reported at Saguna Mor, while vehicles belonging to a judge and a senior education department official were stopped. Roads were blocked in Bihta and at the Dakbungla intersection. In Jehanabad, BJP workers brought road rollers to block traffic and stopped a female teacher from reaching her school.
In Bhagalpur, a couple travelling by motorcycle were reportedly mistreated following an altercation with protesters. In Darbhanga, the BJP’s women’s wing led demonstrations, though workers allowed ambulances and security vehicles through.
Senior BJP leader and minister Surendra Mehta joined protests in Begusarai, where roads and shops were shut. In Munger, workers claimed the bandh was peaceful, though some shops remained open. In Muzaffarpur, a confrontation between Rapid Action Force personnel and protesters over a highway blockade was later resolved through negotiations.
