Patna: War of words have erupted between the ruling alliance and opposition over holding of ‘Jan-Aakrosh Mahila Sammelan’ at Gandhi Maidan on Monday after the Constitution amendment bill to implement reservation for women in the legislature was defeated in Lok Sabha.While the opposition claimed that Gandhi Maidan has been barred as a protest site, the ruling alliance maintained that the ‘Sammelan’ was conducted with due permission from the district administration, in accordance with existing rules and procedures.A Patna high court directive in 2015 stated that Gardanibagh should be the preferred location for demonstrations in the city.Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathore criticised the event, stating it was “a double standard policy” and “a govt protest, not a political protest”. He alleged that Jeevika Didis and govt employees were mobilised under pressure through district magistrates, and accused the NDA of misusing state machinery to cover embarrassment of defeat of passage of women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha.RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said: “This is a double standard policy — you are allowing the venue to be used by the ruling alliance while not allowing the same for the opposition. This is a violation of the constitutional system.”However, JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar said ‘lathis’ are charged when people forcibly enter the restricted area during protest. “No one has heard of lathis being used at Gandhi Maidan, but all political parties should respect the Patna high court’s directive and the people. Rather than making this a political issue, it is better to introspect and work on it,” he said.BJP leader Prem Ranjan Patel defended the event, stating: “Several teachers’ marches have been taken out from Gandhi Maidan — they gathered there after informing the administration. At the Monday’s Akrosh March, only an address took place. There was no plan to go anywhere else. Everyone assembled and went around Gandhi Maidan, and it concluded right there. The administration had prior information and it prepared accordingly. Even earlier, people have marched from there. A dharna cannot be held there. A place has been designated in the Gardanibagh for that purpose. But for holding a protest march, one can march from there, and it has happened many times before as well.”
