Darbhanga: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was stopped by authorities three kilometres short of Lalit Narayan Mithila University on Thursday, as tensions escalated over his scheduled interaction with Dalit and minority students in Darbhanga.
Gandhi was in the city to inaugurate the Shiksha Nyay Samvad (Education Justice Dialogue), a Congress outreach programme focused on educational inequities in Bihar. He had originally planned to address students at the Ambedkar hostel, a government-run accommodation for Dalit students, but local authorities denied permission, citing regulations against holding public events in hostels.
Despite the restriction, Congress leaders and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) members began gathering outside the hostel early in the day, shouting slogans against the state government and accusing the ruling NDA of suppressing dissent.
“There’s no ministerial involvement in changing the venue,” said Darbhanga District Magistrate Rajiv Roshan. “As per norms, such programmes are not allowed inside hostels across India. Permission was granted to hold the event at the Town Hall instead.”
However, Bihar Congress President Rajesh Ram insisted the event would be held at the Ambedkar hostel “under all circumstances.” NSUI national president Varun Chaudhary called the administration’s actions “anti-Dalit,” alleging the denial was politically motivated.
Following the standoff, Rahul Gandhi’s convoy diverted toward the Town Hall, though local leaders hinted he might still make an unscheduled visit to the Ambedkar hostel in protest.
The Shiksha Nyay Samvad campaign marks a new initiative by Congress to engage students and draft an “Education Justice Charter” ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections. Over the next six weeks, events are scheduled at 70 locations across the state, including SC/ST and minority hostels.
In his brief Bihar visit, Gandhi will also attend a screening of Phule—a film on anti-caste reformers Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule—alongside party colleagues at Patna’s City Centre Mall before returning to Delhi.
