For over a week now, the candidates have been protesting seeking the cancellation of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination (CCE), 2024 conducted by the BPSC over allegations of question paper leak.
The impasse over the alleged Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) prelims further intensified on Sunday with the aspirants continuing their protest in Patna's Gandhi Maidan seeking a re-examination. Police resorted to lathi charge and water cannons to disperse the agitating aspirants.
Talking to PTI, a BPSC aspirant said, "We never expected that the government would treat us like this. We are fighting for our own rights...we have nothing to do with those who are coming here to support our stir for political gains".
Rejecting Patna district administration's offer for talks with authorities in the commission and insisting on an appointment with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the protesters on Sunday attempted to march towards the Bihar CM's residence in the evening.
"The protesters gathered at Gandhi Maidan despite the administration's warning that any demonstration there would be considered unauthorised. The district police has registered an FIR against 21 known persons, including Prashant Kishore, his party president Manoj Bharti, city-based tutor Ramanshu Mishra and 600-700 unknown persons for organising a gathering of students at Gandhi Maidan even after denial of permission by the authorities", district magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI
Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishor was also present at the protest on Sunday. On Sturday as well, Kishor went to Gardani Bagh where BPSC aspirants have been staging a dharna for the last several days.
The protest continued a day after Patna District Magistrate (DM) Chandrasekhar Singh said he would not allow the 'Chatra Sansad' (students' congregation) called by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday and warned of action against coaching institute owners who were found to be involved.
Addressing the protesters, Kishor said on Saturday, "Before coming here, I had a long discussion with people from the education field. I must say that irregularities and paper leaks have now become the norm as far as BPSC exams are concerned. It can't go on like this... We have to find a solution. That's why we have decided to organise 'Chatra Sansad' near Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Gandhi Maidan in Patna tomorrow to find a solution to this issue."
However, responding to the development, Patna DM Singh told PTI, "The district administration will not allow students to congregate near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan... it's a restricted area. Other events are also going on there. Adequate security personnel have been deployed in and around Gandhi Maidan. Strict action will be taken against those who try to take law into their hands tomorrow."
"The protesting aspirants have so far not made their stand clear. Earlier in the day, we gave them an offer for facilitating their meeting with the BPSC authorities so that they could put forth their grievances. They want to meet the CM in this regard... that can't happen as BPSC is an independent body and the government has no role to play in this", the DM further added.
For over a week now, the candidates have been protesting seeking the cancellation of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination (CCE), 2024 conducted by the BPSC over allegations of question paper leak.
The aspirants demanded that cancellation should be ordered across the board to maintain the rule of a "level playing field" for all candidates.
The CPI (M-L) Liberation, an alliance partner of INDIA bloc, has also decided to support the 'Chakka Jam' (road blockade) call given by certain students' wings in Bihar on December 30.
Patna Police on Saturday questioned YouTube influencer Motiur Rahman Khan on the charges of instigating the protesting aspirants and delivering provocative speeches while addressing students at Gardani Bagh.
After his questioning, Rahman told reporters, "I categorically told officials that I am not saying that paper was leaked, I simply told them that I am against the use of the 'normalisation of marks' process, which adjusts scores for exams held in multiple shifts to ensure fairness. I have been asked by the police not to participate in any dharna or protests of the BPSC aspirants. I have been called for another round of questioning on January 3."
Earlier, police also arrested two Patna-based tutors — Ramanshu Mishra and Rohan Anand — on charges of instigating students, said a top police officer of Patna district. However, both are out on conditional bail now.