Lagatar24 Desk
Patna: The Bihar political landscape has heated up following police lathi charge on BPSC candidates protesting against alleged irregularities in the preliminary exam conducted on December 13. Opposition leaders, including RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, and MP Pappu Yadav, have criticized the Nitish Kumar government and questioned the police action.
Pappu Yadav Accuses Police of High-Handedness
Lok Sabha MP Pappu Yadav visited the protest site at Gardanibagh and interacted with the candidates. He accused the administration of resorting to “hooliganism” to suppress dissent. “The double-engine government has failed to provide jobs. Exams are either delayed, sold, or riddled with paper leaks. The students are fighting for their future and facing police brutality,” he said, urging Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to support the BPSC candidates.
RJD Leader Manoj Jha Condemns Police Brutality
RJD leader Manoj Jha criticized the government for dismissing legitimate concerns raised by the students. “Exams were delayed by 45 to 50 minutes at many centers, which is a clear injustice. Instead of addressing these issues, the government is treating students like enemies by using police force,” he remarked. Jha called for immediate reconsideration of students’ demands and an end to oppressive measures.
Tejashwi Yadav Targets NDA and Nitish Kumar
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused the NDA government of supporting police excesses. In a social media post, he said, “A few months ago, NDA leaders called Nitish Kumar mentally unfit, and now they defend his authoritarian decisions. Students protesting peacefully are being beaten brutally. Nitish Kumar, who claims to be a follower of JP’s democratic values, cannot tolerate dissent from students.”
Police Action on Protesters at BPSC Office
On Wednesday, students protesting at Gardanibagh marched toward the BPSC office, demanding a re-exam for all centers. Police resorted to lathi charge, injuring several candidates, including women. Reports suggest that the police chased and assaulted the protesters on the streets.
Administration Blames Coaching Institutes
District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh alleged that coaching institutes were inciting students for political gains. He warned of strict action against those involved and stated that cases had been filed against some coaching institutes.
Background of the Protest
The 70th BPSC Preliminary Exam was conducted on December 13 at 950 centers with 4.83 lakh candidates. However, chaos at Bapu Examination Center in Patna led to the cancellation of exams for 12,000 candidates, with a re-exam scheduled for January 4. Protesters, however, are demanding cancellation of the exam across all centers, alleging widespread irregularities.
Opposition Demands Transparency
Opposition leaders have urged the Nitish government to ensure fairness in the recruitment process and address the grievances of the students. They have also called for an investigation into the alleged irregularities.
