Patna: The All India Students’ Association (AISA) will lead a youth and student march from Dakbungalow roundabout to Lok Bhavan at 10am on Saturday, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and pressing for reforms in the education sector. The organisation has also called for a Bihar bandh on July 25, with protests planned across the state.The march was rescheduled from Friday to Saturday after AISA leaders cited heavy police deployment in Patna and said they did not want to compromise the safety of participants. Before her arrest, AISA state vice-president Saba Afreen told TOI that protesters had been asked to exercise restraint and ensure the demonstration remained peaceful so that the focus stayed on their demands.AISA state president Dhananjay said around 100 volunteers would be deployed in Patna to help manage the gathering. Organisers said volunteers would use microphones to maintain order and repeatedly appeal to protesters not to heckle media personnel.AISA has also shared helpline numbers on social media for reporting miscreants and said legal assistance would be provided to protesters, if required. The organisation said the march and Bihar bandh were aimed at drawing attention to student issues and the need for education reforms.
