THOUSANDS JOIN ‘MOUN SANKLAP PADYATRA IN PATNA

THOUSANDS JOIN ‘MOUN SANKLAP PADYATRA IN PATNA

3-NOV-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA----------------------Thousands of members from the Brahmin community gathered in the state capital for a massive 'Moun Sankalp Padyatra' (Silent Resolve Foot March) organized under the banner of Lokmanch.

Led by Lokmanch founder Ashish Kumar alias Babbu Jha, the silent march commenced from the Miller School Ground and proceeded via Income Tax Golambar and the Vidhan Sabha before concluding at the Martyr's Memorial (Saptamurti). The demonstration saw participation from nearly 10,000 people representing various districts across Bihar, including Purnia, Saharsa, Madhepura, Madhubani, and Darbhanga.

Their main demands included Formation of Brahmin Welfare Board: The foremost demand raised during the protest was the immediate establishment of a dedicated 'Brahmin Welfare Board' by the state government to address the social and economic backwardness of underprivileged families within the community. Creation of a Savarna Commission: Protestors called for the establishment of a formal upper-caste (Savarna) commission at both state and national levels to protect the interests and welfare of general category sections. EWS Reservations and Educational Relief: Participants demanded revisions to EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation guidelines, including age relaxations and parity in cut-offs, alongside free coaching support for competitive exams and proper representation in central and residential schools. Political and Administrative Representation: The memorandum urged proportionate placement for Brahmin officers in state administration and fair political representation commensurate with the community's demographic contribution. Other Major Proposals: Key appeals also included declaring Lord Parshuram Jayanti (Akshaya Tritiya) a public holiday, issuing a white paper on the socio-economic status of the community, recovering 1,506 acres of raiyati land alleged to be under illegal encroachment since 1990, and establishing a university in Saharsa named after Bharti-Mandan Mishra.

Addressing the gathering, organizers emphasized that the community has historically contributed significantly from the freedom struggle to nation-building, defining themselves as a "Buddhi Bank" (intellectual bank) rather than a mere vote bank. Leaders stressed that the silent march was organized to draw democratic attention toward long-standing grievances and warned that the community's role and welfare cannot be overlooked in Bihar's political landscape.