Grand Alliance in Bihar forms human chains against new farm laws
Patna, Jan 30 (PTI):
Supporters of the opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar on Saturday formed human chains across the state as an expression of solidarity with the farmers who have been agitating in the national capital seeking the repeal of the contentious farm laws.
Leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav took part in the demonstration in front of the Buddha Smriti Park here, a stone’s throw from the Patna Junction, where he was joined by alliance partners, most notably party emblem waving workers from the Left who have been enthused since the CPI(ML), the CPI and the CPI(M) showed signs of recovery in the recently held assembly polls.
The opposition leaders stood at their designated spots for close to 30 minutes, beginning half past noon. Many of them held hands but many others chose to simply stand with a safe distance from each other in view of the physical distancing norms in force because of COVID-19. The RJD leader bristled when asked about Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s remark suggesting that the opposition seemed to have taken a leaf out of his book.
When approached by journalists with questions about the “manav shrinkhla”, Kumar had replied with a broad grin “we had organised human chains in 2017 in support of prohibition and against dowry and child marriage the following year. Last year, a human chain held to spread awareness about climate change in addition to the issues we had previously raised broke all records”.
“It is nice that others are also drawing inspiration.
Everybody has the right to hold such programmes,” he had said with a smirk.
Yadav responded with distaste “it is a petty remark.
Is he the first person to have ever held a human chain? He should instead make his stand clear on the new farm laws”.
RJD national spokesperson Manoj Jha, who stood nearby, said, “The human chains sponsored by the chief minister depended upon the bureaucracy for its success. Officials concerned were given targets of turnouts to achieve. What is happening here is spontaneous.”
