BPSC Protest: Oppn Lashes Out At Nitish Govt Over Lathi Charge, Prashant Kishor To Move Court

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and other opposition leaders slammed the Bihar government over the use of force against protestors demanding cancellation on BPSC exam.

Police use mild force and water canon to disperse protestors demanding cancellation of BPSC exam in Patna.

Source : PTI

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Monday lashed out Bihar government over the use of water canon and lathi charge against protestors demanding the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam held in Patna on December 13. 

The protestors attempted to march towards the chief minister's residence on Sunday evening, prompting police to take action, said district magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh. 

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi slammed the Nitish Kumar government over the move calling it "inhuman". 

"Students were tortured for the second time in three days in Bihar. It is the government's job to stop corruption, rigging and paper leaks in examinations. But instead of stopping corruption, students are being prevented from raising their voices," Gandhi said in a post on X.

बिहार में तीन दिन के अंदर दूसरी बार छात्रों पर अत्याचार किया गया। परीक्षाओं में भ्रष्टाचार, धांधली, पेपर लीक रोकना सरकार का काम है। लेकिन भ्रष्टाचार रोकने की जगह छात्रों को आवाज उठाने से रोका जा रहा है।

इस कड़ाके की ठंड में युवाओं पर पानी की बौछार और लाठी चार्ज करना अमानवीय है।… pic.twitter.com/te9MOhoKPG

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) December 30, 2024

"Water cannon and lathi charge on youth in this harsh cold is inhuman. BJP's double engine has become a symbol of double atrocities on the youth," she added. 

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also hit out at the BJP-JD(U)government in the state saying there was no place for cowards in Bihar. Sharing an image of a protestor, Singh said: "This picture shows the courage of a brave unemployed youth.
Bihar is the land of heroes, there is no place for cowards there. Total revolution is now the slogan." 

Rashtriya Janata Dal also condemned the police action saying the Nitish Kumar government will have to bear the brunt of it. 

"The way BPSC candidates and students were lathi-charged yesterday, the Nitish government will have to bear the brunt of it. Tejashwi Yadav has said that he will meet CM Nitish Kumar to get justice for these candidates," said RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari. 

Will Go To Court, Says Prashant Kishor 

The Sunday protests were joined by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishore at Gandhi Maidan who was later booked with 21 other people. 

On Monday, Kishor addressed a press conference saying they will approach the court over the registration of FIRs. 

“The Chief Secretary Amritlal Meena ji said that he is ready to meet the student delegation. We announced it there that 5 members of the delegations will go and meet the chief secretary. There was no big mic system so those who heard the announcement, I appealed to them to return back to their homes or Gandhi Maidan," Kishor said during the press conference. 

"I addressed several media outlets at Biscoman as well. We returned to Gandhi Maidan and sat there for long. Half of the crowd left the place. Around 1,000- 2,000 people stayed as they had different opinions and wanted to stay. Some returned but some didn't. Around 45 minutes later, I got the information that the police did lathi-charge and used water cannons on those students," he said.  

"Police could have dispersed the students politely if they had wanted to. This is wrong… It has been informed that an FIR has been registered against us. I want to tell you that now we will register FIR against the Police. We will go to court," Kishor added.