Tension gripped Patna on Friday as Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar and 20 other party members were detained by police while marching towards Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence during the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ campaign, aimed at highlighting the issue of unemployment in Bihar.

The protest, which started peacefully, was stopped by police at Rajapur Pul to prevent the leaders and supporters from reaching the CM's residence. “We have detained around 20 persons, including Kanhaiya Kumar, and taken them to Kotwali police station for legal proceedings,” said Krishna Murari, DSP (Law and Order), Central Patna.

As protestors, including several senior Congress leaders, defied orders to disperse, police initially used water cannons. When that failed, tensions escalated, resulting in scuffles and a mild lathi charge by the police. Protesters continued their march, breaching barricades and creating a tense atmosphere in central Patna, which saw a heavy police presence throughout the day.

Earlier, senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy CM Sachin Pilot joined the protest march, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Kanhaiya Kumar and other youth leaders. Pilot accused both the central and state governments of betraying the youth by failing to deliver on job promises and mishandling employment concerns.

The protest is part of a larger political strategy by the Congress to elevate Kanhaiya Kumar’s profile in Bihar ahead of the upcoming elections. Recently, Rahul Gandhi also visited Begusarai and walked in the ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’ padayatra, echoing similar concerns about the government’s inability to curb rising unemployment.