Protests by students demanding cancellation of the Bihar civil services examination took a turn on Sunday night after police lathi-charged the aspirants in Patna. Later in the night, the protesting Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants turned their anger on political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, who had voiced support for them.
The aspirants asked him to step away from the protest site at Patna’s Gardanibagh, accusing him of being absent during the lathicharge by Bihar Police. Kishor was met with slogans of "Prashant Kishor, go back" upon his arrival at the protest site, leading to heated exchanges with student leaders. Tensions escalated when Kishor remarked, "You take blankets from us and then show us attitude?"
This statement further angered the protesters, who were already upset over a police lathicharge that took place earlier in the night and Kishor’s absence during the incident, and asked him "Where was Prashant Kishor during the lathicharge?".
Earlier on Friday (December 27), Jan Suraj chief Prashant Kishore had given an "ultimatum" to the Bihar government, saying that the demands of the protesting BPSC aspirants should be addressed within three days, or he would lead protests himself. On Sunday, too, Kishor expressed his support for the protesting candidates, calling for an end to the "corruption" in Bihar's examinations.
Thousands of aspirants protested at Gandhi Maidan on Sunday, seeking re-examination of the 70th BPSC preliminary examination and a meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The protest, which began on December 13 -- the day of the examination, has won the backing of several key politicians, educationists and activists.
Prashant Kishor addressed a press conference on Monday, hours after being asked to leave the protest site by angered BPSC aspirants upset over his absence during the lathicharge. Kishor refuted the allegations and presented a detailed account of events, emphasising his continuous support for the students' cause. Kishor claimed that the students themselves were leading the movement, as decided during the "Chhatra Sansad" (Student Parliament).
“A prior permission for the event was unnecessary, contrary to the administration’s claim that it was unauthorised. The march was peacefully organized to submit a memorandum to the government, but they were stopped at JP Golambar, where an agreement to meet the Chief Secretary was reached,” he asserted.
Kishor said that he left the site after advising students to disperse, only for the lathicharge to occur 45 minutes later. He condemned the police action and announced plans to file an FIR against Patna Police, take the matter to court, and approach the Human Rights Commission.
Kishor warned that if no resolution is reached during the delegation meeting, he would join the protest himself starting January 2.
Responding to allegations by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Kishor dismissed the claims, stating he had not abandoned the students but had acted in their best interest.
The Bihar Police has filed a case against Prashant Kishor and others for allegedly instigating the students' protest being held by the BPSC aspirants.
According to the police, Kishor and other members of his party provoked the candidates, prompting them to take to the streets and create disturbances in different parts of the city.
Meanwhile in a latest update, a 4-member delegation has reached the Governor’s residence to submit a memorandum on behalf of the protesters.
Source: India Today