BPSC Row: Students Call For Bihar Bandh Demanding Cancellation Of 70th CCE Exam – News18

Last Updated:December 30, 2024, 10:53 IST

Bihar students have called for a statewide bandh (shutdown) on Monday after police in Patna used water cannons and mild force to disperse protesting students last night.

Bihar students have called for a statewide bandh (shutdown) on Monday to protest against the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). Their anger stems from the exam held on December 13, which they are demanding be cancelled. However, the BPSC has refused to cancel the exam.

Meanwhile, some students will be heading to the Raj Bhavan from Gardani Bagh shortly, as they seek to meet the Governor.

On Sunday, police in Patna used water cannons and mild force to disperse protesting students. The protesters, joined earlier in the day by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishore at Gandhi Maidan, attempted to march toward the Chief Minister’s residence in the evening. This prompted the police to take action, District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said.

He further added that the protesters also tried to jump over barricades while marching from Gandhi Maidan to JP Golumber.

“The protesters gathered at Gandhi Maidan despite the administration’s warning that any demonstration there would be considered unauthorised. The district police have registered an FIR against 21 known persons, including Prashant Kishore, his party president Manoj Bharti, city-based tutor Ramanshu Mishra and 600-700 unknown persons for organising a gathering of students at Gandhi Maidan even after the denial of permission by the authorities”, the DM told PTI.

Prashant Kishore, who arrived in the afternoon and stayed for about an hour, criticised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for “going to Delhi on a private visit but having no time for the youth of his own state.” He also suggested that students begin a “relay fast” to reduce the number of people putting their health at risk for the cause.

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SP City Sweety Sahrawat said that the police asked the protesting students to leave as their representative was not present. She clarified that the police only used a water cannon, not a lathi charge, despite videos showing officers beating people.

“We requested the students to vacate the area, but they didn’t listen to us. We also told them they could present their demands, as we were ready to listen. However, they pushed us, which led to the use of water cannons,” she said.