Patna: Jan Suraj Party leaders and workers staged a protest in Patna on Monday, gathering outside the official residence of Bihar’s Health Minister Mangal Pandey to demand his resignation over the alleged failure of the state’s healthcare system following the death of the Muzaffarpur Kudhni rape victim.
Led by state party president Manoj Bharti, the demonstrators were met with a heavy police presence as they attempted to surround the minister’s residence. The protest, which saw slogans raised and roads blocked, led to scuffles with the police. Visuals from the scene showed Jan Suraj supporters sitting on the road outside Pandey’s official quarters, chanting slogans and holding placards.
Police detained several Jan Suraj leaders, including Bharti, vice-president Lalanji, and former MLA Kishore Kumar, along with other workers. Officers later resorted to mild baton charges to disperse the crowd when tensions escalated.
The protest was sparked by allegations that the young rape victim, who later died, did not receive adequate or timely medical treatment at Patna’s PMCH hospital. Jan Suraj, along with other opposition parties, has criticised the state government’s handling of the incident, alleging systemic failure in public health services.
Speaking before his detention, Bharti said the health minister should step down, adding, “This is not just administrative negligence—it’s criminal apathy. The girl’s life could have been saved.”
The party has vowed to continue its agitation until accountability is fixed and reforms are initiated in Bihar’s healthcare system.
