New Delhi: The protest by the Bihar Public Service Examination (BPSC) aspirants in Bihar took a major turn on Sunday. After holding a Dharma Sansad at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, the students began marching towards chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence to meet him, but the police stopped them near JP Golambar. The students tried to negotiate and when they did not agree to disperse, the police lathi charged and water cannons to chase them away. Some students were injured during the lathi charge.
Jan Suraj Party chief Prashant Kishor also arrived at Gandhi Maidan to support the protesting students. Afterwards, he joined the students in marching toward the CM residence. It is reported that he left JP Golambar before the lathi charge occurred. Later, he announced that the government had agreed to talk to the students. A 5-member delegation will now meet with the Chief Secretary. A case has been filed against Kishore, his party president and 600-700 unknown people.
#WATCH | Bihar | Police use mild-lathi charge and water cannon to disperse the BPSC aspirants protesting in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, demanding a re-exam to be held for the 70th BPSC prelims pic.twitter.com/R0hxqArAYv
— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2024
Kishor assures government readiness
Kishor said that administrative officers of the government were present, had spoken with their colleagues and assured that the government is ready to discuss the candidates’ demands. He also said that if the BPSC candidates are not satisfied after speaking with the Chief Secretary, they will reconvene the next morning. He urged the students not to take any illegal actions for now. If the decision does not favour the students or if any injustice is done to them, he promised to stand by them with full support.
What are the demands of the students?
The BPSC students are firm in their demand to cancel the integrated 70th combined preliminary competitive examination and conduct it afresh. They are also calling for a thorough investigation into the entire process, from the preparation of the question paper to the examination. The students have demanded that an SOP be created for competitive examinations to prevent unnecessary difficulties. They also requested that their names be removed from the FIR lodged against unknown individuals.
Politics intensifies
Politics has also heated intensified over the lathi charge on protesting students in Bihar. The Congress condemned the brutal use of water cannons and lathis by police against unemployed youth demanding justice over the BPSC exam. AAP leader Sanjay Singh criticised the government’s autocratic approach. He urged dialogue and constitutional solutions, while calling out Nitish Kumar’s actions.
