‘Broken Bones Can Heal, But What About Dreams?’ Rahul Gandhi Targets Bihar Govt

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary over police action against students protesting alleged irregularities in the examination system, questioning whether their shattered dreams could be restored after their injuries healed.

Sharing a video of his recent interaction with students and youngsters from Bihar, Gandhi alleged that they had faced “horrific police brutality” for demanding education, employment and accountability from the government.

“Imagine, what sin had these children committed that they were shot with bullets?” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi. He alleged that an AK-47 bullet fractured the leg of a student aspiring to join the Army, while two others suffered bullet injuries to their shoulders.

Gandhi said the protesters were not criminals but youngsters from poor families who had taken to the streets in pursuit of better opportunities and to fulfil their families’ aspirations. He questioned who would address the fear allegedly instilled in students following the violence.

“Prime minister ji, chief minister ji, their broken bones would be fixed. Can you restore their shattered dreams?” Gandhi said. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha had earlier met protesting students and accused the government of using excessive force against young people demanding a transparent examination and recruitment process.

He alleged that police lathis, AK-47 fire and pistol shots had left several students injured, including a youth whose aspiration to serve in the Army was, he claimed, destroyed by his injuries. Gandhi also rejected the possibility of holding lower-level officials solely responsible, arguing that such action could either have resulted from orders from above or reflected a serious administrative failure.

The protests in Patna intensified last month as job aspirants attempted to march towards the chief minister’s residence. They have demanded a single-tier teacher recruitment examination and greater transparency in the recruitment process. The student movement, which began in the first week of August, has also received support from opposition leaders, including RJD working president Tejashwi Yadav.