Patna: A day after tensions increased in Patna over Prashant Kishor joining protests of UPSC aspirants and subsequent use of lathi-charge by the police, the Jan Suraaj chief on Monday said that it has been decided to to give 48 hours time to the government to take call on the issues raised by the protesters. He also urged political leaders to stand with protesting students.
“We have decided to give the government 48 hours. I would request all the leaders who want to lead the protest to come forward and stand with the students…I was standing with the students and till I was there no lathi charge was done…Whoever official is involved in the lathi charge, we will take legal action against them,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Politics over protests increased
The politics surrounding the lathi-charge incident have heated up in Bihar. The police also booked Prashant Kishor and nearly 600 others for provoking others and for unauthorised assembly at Gandhi Maidan.
According to reports, there was an argument between Prashant Kishor and protesting candidates, during which BPSC aspirants accused the leader of leaving the site just before the lathi charge and the use of water cannon on them.
#WATCH | BPSC protest in Bihar | Patna | Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishore says, “We have decided to give the government 48 hours…I would request all the leaders who want to lead the protest to come forward and stand with the students…I was standing with the students and till… pic.twitter.com/kKJkFCV8HQ
— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2024
‘Crores of rupees exchanged hands’
Speaking to media persons on Monday, Prashant Kishor claimed that “thousands of crores of rupees have changed hands” for posts to be filled up by the Bihar PSC exam. Notably, protesting candidates are demanding the cancellation of the exam. He also expressed disappointment over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar not uttering a “single word”, even as protests have been going on for last two weeks, as per news agency PTI.
He added, “The candidates are protesting in biting cold, braving baton charges by police and water cannons. The CM is away in Delhi, and having a good time. He did not utter a single word when reporters in the national capital approached him with queries on the stir.”
