Bihar Protests: Police Lathicharge on Students Demanding BPSC Retest Sparks Political Storm

Patna: A massive political row has erupted in Bihar following a police lathicharge on students protesting against alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. The students, who have been demanding a re-test since December 13, claim the question paper was leaked and that there were widespread procedural issues during the exam, including delays in distributing papers and incidents of torn answer sheets.

The situation took a dramatic turn on Sunday when election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj, joined the protest. Kishor, along with 700 unidentified protesters, has been named in a police case for allegedly instigating the agitation and disrupting public order.

The Protest and Allegations

The protests, initially peaceful, were centered in Patna's Gardanibagh area. Students accused the BPSC of making irregularities a norm, prompting demands for systemic changes. On Sunday, Kishor organized a "Chhatra Sansad" (Students' Parliament) at Patna's historic Gandhi Maidan, a move criticized by the administration, which declared the area restricted.

Kishor maintained that the event was meant to empower students to lead the movement independently. "The students decided on their leaders and resolved to follow a lawful approach," he told the media.

Clashes with Police

Tensions escalated when protesters marched towards Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's residence to submit their demands. Police stopped them, and Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena invited representatives for talks. However, the protesters insisted on meeting the Chief Minister. The demonstration continued for two hours until some protesters broke a barricade, prompting the police to respond with lathicharge and water cannons.

Videos of the police action and subsequent altercations have gone viral, intensifying public outrage.

Prashant Kishor Under Fire

In the aftermath, protesters accused Kishor of abandoning them before the police crackdown. Viral videos show a heated exchange between Kishor and students, with some raising slogans against him. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) accused him of being a "BJP B-team" operative trying to sabotage the movement.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav criticized Kishor without naming him, saying, "Some people misled the students. The peaceful protest had put pressure on the state government, but conspiracies shifted the focus to Gandhi Maidan."

Opposition Condemns NDA Government

Opposition leaders have condemned the JDU-BJP government for the lathicharge. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the crackdown "inhuman," stating that instead of addressing paper leaks, the government is suppressing students' voices. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal described the police action as "an attack on democracy."

As the controversy continues, questions remain about the integrity of the BPSC examination process and the government's handling of the protests.