Key Points:
- BPSC preliminary exam paper leak sparks outrage among candidates, demanding cancellation of the exam.
- Violent clashes erupt between police and candidates in Patna, leading to lathi charges and water cannons.
- Nitish government faces sharp criticism from opposition leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav.
- AISA announces a Bihar bandh on December 30, with CPI extending its support.
- FIR lodged against 21 individuals, including Prashant Kishore, for allegedly inciting protests without permission.
Patna: Bihar finds itself in the throes of a major controversy as a paper leak scandal in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination has left thousands of candidates enraged. Allegations of negligence and corruption have triggered widespread protests, with students demanding the cancellation of the examination and a re-test.
The Bihar Public Service Commission, however, has refused to accede to these demands, creating a standoff between the candidates and the administration. On Sunday evening, tensions boiled over into a violent clash between protesting students and the police, casting a shadow on the state’s governance.
Protests Escalate Amid Demands for Re-Examination
Candidates have been staging protests across Patna for several days, accusing the government and the BPSC of playing with their future. On Sunday, a large group of students attempted to march to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence to submit a memorandum. However, the march was intercepted by police, leading to heated clashes.
As students tried to break through barricades, the police resorted to using water cannons and lathi charges to disperse the crowd. The confrontation at JP Golambar saw both sides engaged in a chaotic showdown, intensifying the candidates’ anger.
AISA and CPI Call for Statewide Bandh
Adding fuel to the fire, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) has called for a Bihar bandh on December 30 to demand justice for the affected candidates. The Communist Party of India (CPI) has extended its support to the bandh, signaling a united front against the government’s handling of the issue.
Tejashwi Yadav Slams Government, Backs Candidates
Former Deputy Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav has thrown his weight behind the protesting students, accusing the Nitish government of gross mismanagement. In a scathing critique, Yadav accused Prashant Kishore of hijacking the movement and misleading students for personal gain.
In a Facebook video, Yadav claimed that he had written to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, demanding the cancellation of the examination, but received no response. Expressing solidarity with the candidates, he asserted that the government is “playing with the future of the youth.”
FIR Against Protest Leaders
The Patna police have lodged an FIR against 21 individuals, including political strategist Prashant Kishore, his party president Manoj Bharti, and city teacher Ramanshu Mishra. The FIR also names 600-700 unidentified protesters. According to the police, these individuals organized an unauthorized gathering at Gandhi Maidan and incited the crowd, leading to the violent clashes.
Government Under Pressure as Protests Intensify
With the scandal garnering widespread attention, the Nitish government and the BPSC are under mounting pressure to address the issue transparently. The candidates, buoyed by political support and public solidarity, continue to demand justice, making it clear that their fight is far from over.
As Bihar braces for the December 30 bandh, all eyes are on the state government’s next move to quell the unrest and restore faith in its examination system.
