BPSC Exam: Prashant Kishor Reacts To Row Over 'Vanity Van' Near Hunger Strike Site — 'If I Go Home Then...'
The van is reportedly equipped with various luxury facilities and is parked a few hundred metres away from the protest site, where Kishor launched his 'aamaran anshan' on Thursday evening.
A controversy erupted on Saturday over a plush van parked near the protest site in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, where Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor is on a fast-unto-death in support of the cancellation of the 70th Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination over question paper leak allegations. Kishor has now reacted to the row over the 'vanity van', saying that he uses the vehicle to "relieve" himself as he cannot go home to take rest.
The van is reportedly equipped with various luxury facilities and is parked a few hundred metres away from the protest site, where Kishor launched his 'aamaran anshan' on Thursday evening. After Kishor's white caravan, which is a modified minibus, was spotted, opposition began raising questions if his protest was sincere.
Patna, Bihar: Amid Prashant Kishor's hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan, his vanity van has become a subject of controversy pic.twitter.com/M0KWS3bnxV
— IANS (@ians_india) January 4, 2025
Kishor said on Saturday that if he went home to relieve himself, journalists would say he went to have food. He also rubbished reports that the rent of the van was Rs 25 lakh per day.
Hitting back at the opposition amid the row over his van, Prashant Kishor said: "I am on a fast here. If I go home to relieve myself, then journalists will ask questions whether I went to have food or take a nap... Some people said the vanity van is worth Rs 2 crore and the rent for the same is Rs 25 lakh per day."
"I want to convey this through media persons... let this van be taken away and in return, give me Rs 25 lakh per day and provide an alternate space that can be used as washroom," he added.
Later today, Kishor also said that it wasn't anything new that he was being criticised by the opposition parties. He said that he was not participating in the protest under his party's name but was instead there to support the students. "Anyone can come and lead, whether it is Rahul Gandhi or Tejashwi Yadav," he said.
#WATCH | Patna | On the controversy over his vanity van, Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor says, "...It is not new for the opposition parties to criticise me...I have come here in support of the students. Anyone can come and lead, whether it is Rahul Gandhi or Tejashwi Yadav..." pic.twitter.com/Q7SHP4eFOC
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2025
On being questioned about the purpose of the vehicle, the 47-year-old leader in turn asked if the question of "where we relieve ourselves is more important than the future of BPSC aspirants". The former political strategist also questioned the media if the would have asked the same question to PM Modi or Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.
"Will you be able to question Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar about the amenities they enjoy?" Kishor asked.
Patna, Bihar: Jan Suraaj Party founder, Prashant Kishor says, "If I don't go to the bus, people ask if other people use the van. Well, it's someone else's house, they can go, they're not on a hunger strike, they can use the bathroom, they can go to the restroom. But I’m on a… https://t.co/XRvBFNtWOc pic.twitter.com/peYxOsLY4U
— IANS (@ians_india) January 4, 2025
Prashant Kishor has demanded cancellation of the 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) held on December 13. Despite an FIR on Kishor and his "150 supporters" by the district administration, which said that the protest at the site was "illegal", the Jan Suraaj founder has continued the hunger strike.
According to District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh, "no dharna can be allowed at a spot other than the designated place in Gardani Bagh" in accordance with a Patna High Court order.
Several candidates have been protesting for nearly three weeks at Gardani Bagh over the alleged irregularities in the BPSC 70th CCE exam.
"We will take appropriate action against Kishor and his supporters, who were served with a notice on Thursday to vacate the spot,” the DM added.
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