Chicago Friday, May 16, 2025
Rahul Gandhi Detained in Darbhanga During Attempt to Meet Students
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was detained in Darbhanga during his attempt to meet students at the Ambedkar Chhatravas (hostel) and discuss key issues such as education, justice, and social equality. The authorities reportedly denied him permission to hold a discussion at the hostel campus, which houses around 500–600 students. Officials claimed that allowing such a meeting could create a law and order issue, and permission for the program had not been granted.
Ambedkar Hostel Visit Denied Amid Claims of Discrimination
Rahul Gandhi questioned why his program at the Ambedkar Hostel, primarily occupied by students from SC, ST, and Other Backward Classes, was disallowed. He expressed frustration at being prevented from meeting the marginalized students and criticized the administration for putting up barricades. Gandhi claimed that he was simply trying to speak with students belonging to disadvantaged communities, and said, “I’m SC, ST, Ati Pichhra, Pichhra I wanted to go to the hostel and talk to them.”
Pattern of Restrictions Against Rahul Gandhi’s Visits
This is not the first time Rahul Gandhi faced such restrictions. He was previously detained in Mandsaur while attempting to meet farmers and in 2021 after the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, where protesters were allegedly run over by a vehicle. In 2020, during an effort to meet the family of a Dalit woman in Uttar Pradesh, he was reportedly manhandled and arrested. In 2013, during communal tensions in Muzaffarnagar, and again in December 2024, at the Delhi-Ghazipur border, he was stopped by police. Despite being the Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Gandhi said he was denied his constitutional right to visit citizens. Eventually, he called the affected family to his home and met them there.
Political Reactions and Accusations of Bias
Rahul Gandhi’s repeated detentions have drawn strong political reactions. Union Minister Giriraj Singh tweeted a photo of Gandhi’s meeting, calling it “Meeting Jihad,” and accused him of trying to stir unrest. Critics questioned the Bihar administration’s decision to block Gandhi’s activities, suggesting that the ruling parties, BJP and its ally Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), may feel threatened by his outreach. Gandhi’s supporters claim that the denial of access to Ambedkar Hostel, which serves mostly poor and marginalized students, violates democratic principles and the spirit of the Constitution.
