Patna: Rahul Gandhi, after addressing NSUI’s Shiksha Nyaya Samvad in Darbhanga on Thursday, arrived in Patna to watch the biopic Phule—based on social reformer Jyotiba Phule—at INOX City Centre Mall. He was joined by 400 social workers from across Bihar, selected for the special screening through passes marked with Gandhi’s photo and the phrase “hero of social justice.”
However, tensions flared outside the theatre as several Congress workers who had reportedly passed internal selection tests were denied entry. Many voiced anger over being excluded despite prior promises. Only a limited number of senior party leaders were allowed inside the auditorium.
Earlier that day in Darbhanga, Gandhi faced resistance from the district administration. He had planned to visit Ambedkar Hostel to interact with Dalit and minority students. Despite being granted permission for an event at the town hall, Gandhi chose instead to walk nearly 3 km to the hostel, where police prevented him from entering. He addressed a brief 12-minute speech to students from outside the building, expressing his frustration: “You are not being allowed to speak. Caste census is necessary.”
During his speech, Gandhi raised concerns about systemic inequality, claiming that 90% of the country’s population is excluded from the top tiers of the bureaucracy, healthcare, and education. He accused the central government of working for corporate interests and reiterated his demand for a nationwide caste census, reservation for Dalits and Adivasis in private universities, and proper fund allocation for marginalised communities.
Following the incident, Darbhanga’s District Magistrate Rajiv Roshan stated that Gandhi violated Section 163 of the CrPC and that action would be taken accordingly.
Meanwhile, protests erupted outside the Ambedkar hostel, with Congress and NSUI leaders condemning what they called the NDA government’s anti-Dalit stance. Heavy police presence remained on-site as slogans were raised against the state administration.
