Congress Protests Pappu Yadav’s Arrest, Burns Effigy of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

The Congress party on Sunday (February 8, 2026) staged a protest in Patna, condemning the arrest of Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, in connection with a forgery case dating back to 1995. As part of the demonstration, Congress workers burnt an effigy of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing the state government of misusing law enforcement to silence dissenting voices.

The protest was led by local Congress leaders and party workers, who alleged that the arrest was politically motivated and aimed at targeting leaders who speak out against the government. Raising slogans against the Nitish Kumar-led administration, demonstrators demanded Pappu Yadav’s immediate release and called for an impartial investigation into the case.

Addressing the gathering, Congress worker Premchand Singh accused the Bihar government of failing on issues of women’s safety while cracking down on political opponents. “The government is failing to provide justice to our daughters. Instead of taking action against criminals, it is jailing those who raise their voices against injustice,” Singh alleged.

Congress leaders claimed that Pappu Yadav has been vocal on issues related to social

justice and law and order, and his arrest was intended to intimidate opposition figures. They argued that reviving a decades-old case reflected selective action by the authorities and raised serious questions about the timing of the move.

Pappu Yadav, a former Lok Sabha MP and a prominent political figure in Bihar, was arrested earlier this week in connection with the forgery case registered in 1995. Police officials, however, have maintained that the arrest followed due legal process and denied allegations of political vendetta.

The ruling Janata Dal (United) has rejected the Congress’s claims, stating that the law is taking its own course and that no individual is above the law.

The protest added to the growing political tension in Bihar, with opposition parties stepping up their attacks on the state government ahead of the upcoming political battles. Further demonstrations are expected in the coming days as the controversy surrounding Pappu Yadav’s arrest continues to escalate