High-voltage drama unfolded in Bihar on Tuesday as Anganwadi workers staged a protest outside the Vidhan Sabha demanding an honorarium hike. The protestors gheraoed the Vidhan Sabha chanting slogans against the Nitish Kumar-led state government which had promised to double their salaries during the 2020 Assembly elections.
The Bihar police used water cannons to disperse the protesters and amid the chaos, a Anganwadi worker fainted as the police continued lathicharge and water cannons against the agitators.
"Who can survive on Rs 5000?". This is how we are treated when we ask for our rights. Unless we get paid like a government worker, we won't stop protesting", said one of the protesters, according to an ANI report.
The Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs targeted the Bihar government over the use of water cannon against the Anganwadi workers by staging a protest outside the state legislative assembly.
"...Anganwadi workers have taken to the streets over their demands but they are being dispersed with the help of water cannons. You might have seen baton action on different employees...People are beaten up in Patna when they come out on the streets with their demands," said former Bihar Chief Minister and BJP MLA Tarkishore Prasad.
"This Government is heavy-handed, they don't care about anybody. Its leader and co-leader want to become the Prime Minister or Chief Minister. They are unable to come out of this and Bihar is burning today," he added.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, justified the use of water cannn saying its the least the government can do against the demonstrators.
"In a democracy, everyone has the right to put their demands in front of the government and the government should also pay attention to their demands," Jha said, adding: "The use of water cannons is the least a government can do against the protesters. The current Bihar government takes the demands of the people seriously and discussions".