PAPPU YADAV FURIOUS OVER INSULT TO THE PAAG

PAPPU YADAV FURIOUS OVER INSULT TO THE PAAG

1-AUG-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------Purnia MP Pappu Yadav arrived at the Parliament's Monsoon Session with a bandage on his forehead and a lathi in hand. He strongly condemned the police use of force against students. Meanwhile, Pappu Yadav launched a scathing attack after BJP MP Gopal Ji Thakur presented the Mithila 'Paag' (traditional headgear) to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

A 'JUSTICE' bandage on the forehead. A plaster cast on the hand. A lathi on the shoulder. This was the appearance in which Pappu Yadav, the Independent MP from Purnia, presented himself before media cameras. A distinct side of Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, was witnessed amidst the Parliament's Monsoon Session. He arrived at Parliament with a bandage or plaster on his forehead bearing the word 'Justice' and a lathi (baton) in his hand. Pappu Yadav vehemently protested against the lathi-charge and use of force against students demonstrating across the country.

Darbhanga's BJP MP, Gopal Ji Thakur, had honored Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan yesterday by presenting him with the 'Paag'—the traditional cap of the Mithila region. Pappu Yadav reacted angrily when asked about this incident, terming it an insult to both Mithila culture and the students.

Outside the Parliament building, Pappu Yadav appeared in a symbolic 'injured' state. He protested against the police action taken against students demonstrating at Jantar Mantar and in Bihar over irregularities in NEET and other competitive examinations. He demanded that instead of raining lathis on students, the government should take strict action against the real culprits behind the corruption.

He highlighted that lathis and weapons are being used to silence students' voices and that examinees are being subjected to atrocities instead of the real perpetrators of paper leaks being caught. He called for nationwide justice against the wrongs inflicted upon protesting youth and pledged to raise this issue forcefully during the discussion on the anti-paper leak bill.

Purnia MP Pappu Yadav said, "How can a corrupt person be... [honored with] the 'Paag,' which is the most respected headgear in the world? Will you now put the Mithila 'Paag'—which is the most sacred—on a thief? They are beating people with lathis; look at this... they are beating us with lathis. They are using AK-47s. They have crossed all limits of oppression in Bihar. They are beating people in Rajasthan. Just yesterday, a paper was stolen in Gujarat. And yet, we remain silent. They broke arms by beating people."

Lathi-charges occurred at several locations against protesters opposing the NEET paper leak. Addressing this, Pappu Yadav said, "They are beating daughters. They are striking private parts with lathis. If we don't carry lathis ourselves, these people might even have us shot. They beat Rahul Gandhi. They beat Priyanka Gandhi right in front of the Prime Minister's residence." "They beat up Akhilesh-ji from the opposition. They beat everyone up. Yesterday, they committed a shameful act; they honored thieves and corrupt individuals. Thakur (Darbhanga BJP MP Gopalji Thakur) has lowered the dignity of Mithila."