Dec 29, 2024: Thousands of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants gathered at Gandhi Maidan in Patna to protest alleged irregularities in the 70th BPSC Preliminary Examination. The situation became critical as police used lathi charges and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.
Protest Demands and Allegations
The aspirants raised demands for re-examining all tests, complaining of paper leaks and some CCTV cameras being dysfunctional during the process. Protestors tried to move towards CM Nitish Kumar’s house despite their rejection by officials.
Clashes and Police Action
When protesters broke through the barricades, police have used force, and then there were chaotic scenes witnessed at the protest site. More than 700 persons, including political strategist and Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor, have been named in an FIR as accused of inciting disturbance and disrupting public order. Political Reactions
Prashant Kishor strongly criticized the way the government handled the protest. He said, “Students have a right to demand a fair examination process.” Tejashwi Yadav, leader of opposition in Bihar Assembly, called it “very painful” and stood by the students. He further said that there was widespread complaint of malpractice from different centers. The BPSC had cancelled the examination from only one center.
The authorities ask the students to use legitimate avenues for airing their complaints and emphasize the need for maintaining public order. While officials maintain that they will look into the complaints brought forth, they refuse to accept the disruptions. The situation is still tense. Students demand transparency and accountability in the examination process, and protests are likely to continue unless demands for re-examination are met.
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