Rahul Gandhi to lead ' Chakka Jam' Patna protest on July 9 against labour code

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to participate in a "chakka jam" (roadblock) protest in Patna on Wednesday, July 9, alongside other leaders of the INDIA bloc. The protest is being organized against the new labor code and the ongoing special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, which the opposition alleges is mired in "confusion" and designed to benefit the ruling BJP-led NDA.

The announcement was made on Monday at a press conference attended by prominent opposition figures, including Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, state Congress president Rajesh Kumar, and AICC in-charge for Bihar Krishna Allavaru, along with leaders from Left parties. Rajesh Kumar confirmed that Gandhi, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, will join the protestors in the state capital, where a march to the Election Commission office is also planned.

Tejashwi Yadav emphasized that while Rahul Gandhi will be in Patna, the stir will be a statewide affair across Bihar. He stated that the INDIA bloc is extending its full support to the "chakka jam," viewing the new labor code as an "assault on democracy" akin to the ongoing electoral roll revision process. The opposition has consistently raised concerns that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which is to be completed in less than a month, lacks transparency and could lead to the disenfranchisement of genuine voters, particularly from marginalized communities. They accuse the Election Commission of attempting to aid the ruling coalition through this exercise, a charge the EC has denied, stating the revision aims for error-free electoral rolls.