Patna, December 29: Bihar Police deployed mild lathi charges and water cannons to disperse Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants protesting at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, on Sunday. The aspirants were demanding a re-examination of the 70th BPSC preliminary exams conducted earlier this month.
SP City Sweety Sahrawat explained that police resorted to these measures after students pushed the security personnel. "We requested the protesting students to vacate the area and assured them that their demands would be heard. However, they did not comply and pushed us, prompting us to use water cannons," she stated.
Among the protesters was Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who expressed solidarity with the students. Addressing the crowd, he said, "Government officials have assured us that the demands of the students will be discussed with the Chief Secretary by a five-member student delegation. If the outcome does not satisfy the students, we will decide on the next steps tomorrow morning. Until then, I urge everyone to act within the law. If injustice is done, we will stand with the students with full strength."
The aspirants alleged political interference in their demands for a re-exam. One protester said, "We don't want to be victims of political agendas. Our only demand is a re-examination. Attempts are being made to divert attention from the issue, but we remain focused on this demand."
Meanwhile, protests extended beyond Patna as Delhi Police detained members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) protesting outside Bihar Bhawan in Delhi on Saturday. The agitation follows the December 13 Integrated Combined Preliminary Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, which students claim was marred by irregularities.
The situation remains tense, with both aspirants and leaders awaiting the government's response to their demands.
