North India Statesman
BPSC Row: There is an uproar in Patna over the alleged question paper leak of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). The fight between the candidates and the Commission has now turned into a one-on-one fight. On one hand, the students’ organization is adamant on canceling the BPSC preliminary examination, while on the other hand, the Bihar Public Service Commission is not ready to listen to the students. In Patna, students adamant on the demand of cancellation of BPSC examination had a heated clash with the police on Sunday evening.
The opposition has attacked the Nitish government over the use of police force on students. Meanwhile, AISA has announced Bihar bandh and blockade today on 30th December regarding BPSC re-examination. CPI has also announced its support to this movement.
Tejashwi accused PK of hijacking the movement
Former Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav attacked Prashant Kishore and accused him of misleading and hijacking the AUK movement. While sharing the video on Facebook, he said that he also wrote a letter to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the issue of BPSC but did not get any reply. The government is playing with the future of the youth. The entire exam should be cancelled. Government and BPSC are under pressure. My moral support is to BPSC candidates.
Tejashwi said that the way the students were lathicharged in winter is shocking. He alleged that the assault on the students was done at the behest of Nitish Kumar. Cornering Prashant Kishore, he said that some people tried to mislead this movement. The B team of the government and BJP was brought forward to spoil the movement. When the students were fighting, those who said that they would stand up first ran away first. This is a conspiracy to end the movement.
I would like to appeal to the students to raise their voice in a peaceful manner and not deviate from what others say. Some people want to hijack this movement (attack on Prashant Kishore). Nitish Kumar is not conscious.
The student wanted to go to CM residence
BPSC candidates in Patna were protesting for the last several days regarding their demands. On Sunday, students wanted to go to CM residence and apply to Nitish Kumar. Whom the police stopped on the way. After this there was a clash between the students and the police. Prashant Kishore was also involved in the demonstration, who was seen arguing with the police personnel. The protesting students did not stop and kept breaking the barricades. When he finally reached JP Golambar, the police sprayed water on him. Meanwhile, the police also lathi-charged him and later removed him from JP Golambar.
Police have registered an FIR against 21 people including Prashant Kishore, his party president Manoj Bharti, city teacher Ramanshu Mishra and 600-700 unidentified people. Police say that despite not getting permission from the authorities, these people had organized a meeting of students at Gandhi Maidan. Police allege that these people provoked the students.
Had to use water cannon out of compulsion
Patna Central SP said, ‘There was no lathicharge, they (candidates) were repeatedly requested to move away from here. We told him to present his demands before us, we are ready for talks but he remained adamant. There was scuffle in the system by the candidates. In the end we were forced to use water cannon. In that too we intervened and removed them but still they did not move. There was a jam on the road due to the students’ demonstration. A large number of people were trapped there. No representative came to meet him. Prashant Kishore, who was leading the entire march, left the students who were blocking JP Golambar. The students were appealed to leave from there, but they did not agree and finally water cannons were used on them.
