Patna: CPI(ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya on Thursday accused the Centre and the Bihar govt of using repressive measures to suppress student protests instead of addressing their demands.Addressing a public meeting at Paliganj in Patna district, Bhattacharya alleged that the govts wanted to prevent the emergence of student leadership. “Earlier, student movements produced leaders. Today, governments want to ensure that no student leaders emerge so that the voice of the poor and common people is not heard,” he said.The Paliganj assembly constituency is represented by CPI(ML) MLA Sandeep Saurabh, who was arrested ahead of the Bihar Bandh on July 25 after participating in protests over alleged paper leaks.Bhattacharya, who is on a five-day yatra across selected districts of the state, said the BJP’s defeat in the Bankipur bypoll reflected a shift in the mood of students and youth that was now spreading across Bihar. He urged people to support the demands of students and young people.On Aug 4, Bhattacharya visited Pakharpur, Haibatpur and Chaiti Pipar villages in Jehanabad and Arwal districts, where he met families affected by what he described as “feudal violence”. He also attended a condolence meeting for undertrial prisoner Churaman Bhagat.On Wednesday, he visited Siwan, where he met people injured in alleged police firing and action during protests before addressing another public meeting.
