Protests intensified on Friday in Bihar's Patna as agitators demanded for the cancellation of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination (CCE), 2024, conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) over allegations of question paper leak. Protestors disrupted rail and vehicular movement in Patna while a few Left-leading students’ organisations were stopped from marching to the CM's residence. Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor continued with his fast-unto-death that he began on Thursday.


The protests continued to escalate a day ahead of the scheduled re-tests for a select group of candidates.


Independent MP Pappu Yadav led his supporters in the protest, blocking rail and road traffic in various parts of Patna and around the state, including Araria, Muzaffarpur, and Purnea, news agency PTI reported citing officials.


The protesters gathered at Sachiwalay Halt Railway Station delayed the train movement as they squatted on the tracks for a brief period. Yadav’s supporters also burnt tyres on roads in Purnea and Patna, the report said.


"The agitators stopped the Buxar-Fatuha passenger train at Sachivalaya Halt Station around 9 am. The train was stopped for 20 minutes," East Central Railway Chief Public Relation Officer Sarswati Chandra told PTI.


A few members of Left-leaning students’ organisations also clashed with police when they were stopped from marching towards the chief minister's residence in Patna. 


The Independent MP also led his supporters in a march from Sachiwalay Halt Railway Station to JP Golumber, but they were stopped by the police from proceeding further. "We know that the government is not going to listen to us right away. After all, the question papers were leaked in connivance with the high and the mighty. But, we must draw inspiration from the recent farmers' agitation and brace for a long fight," Yadav said.


Later in the day, Congress workers also took out a torch rally in Patna to support the students protesting against BPSC.






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Prashant Kishor Continues Fast-Unto-Death


Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor's fast-unto-death entered second day today. He began the fast on Thursday, demanding for cancellation of the exam conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13.


Yadav took a jibe at Kishor as he likened the former political strategist to well-known conman ‘Natwar Lal’. "He is ‘Natwar Lal’, who sits on fast-unto-death in the evening after having lunch. Please don’t talk about him," Yadav said.






Kishor’s fast-unto-death at Gandhi Maidan has been termed "illegal” by the administration as he is holding protest at a site that is not designated for it, PTI reported citing an official.


On Thursday, the district police had registered an FIR against Kishor and others for protesting at the restricted site.


The CCE held on December 13 has sparked a massive row over allegations of question paper leak, which the BPSC has denied. Later, a fresh test was ordered for over 10,000 candidates, who had appeared for the exam at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre. They will now reappear at 22 newly designated centres across the city on January 4.


Aspirants staging protests have been demanding that fresh exams be held for all the five lakh candidates and not just a few candidates, to ensure a "level-playing field". 


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