30-Dec-2024, 11:31 AM
On December 29, 2024, the Bihar Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Prashant Kishor, the leader of the Jan Suraaj Party, along with 20 others, for allegedly inciting protests by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. The protests were sparked by demands for a re-examination of the 70th BPSC preliminary examination, which candidates claimed was marred by irregularities, including late distribution of question papers and allegations of a paper leak.
The police reported that Kishor and his associates allegedly provoked thousands of aspirants to gather unlawfully at Gandhi Maidan despite the district administration’s refusal to grant permission for such an assembly. The FIR lists charges including incitement and disruption of public order, with over 600 unidentified individuals also named as accused. The situation escalated when protesters attempted to march towards the residence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, leading to confrontations with law enforcement that involved water cannons and lathi charges.
Kishor joined the protesters on Sunday afternoon, criticizing Kumar for ignoring their grievances while attending to personal matters in Delhi. “The Chief Minister does not have time to listen to the grievances of the protesting aspirants,” he stated, adding that the protest will go on until the demands of the demonstrators were met.
And reaffirming his support for the students.
The protests began earlier in December and intensified as candidates expressed frustration over perceived injustices in the examination process. As tensions rose, police declared Gandhi Maidan a restricted area, further complicating the protesters’ efforts to voice their demands610. The district magistrate indicated that strict actions would follow against those disrupting public order during these protests.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions in Bihar regarding educational policies and student rights, as well as Kishor’s emerging role as a political figure advocating for youth issues amid widespread dissatisfaction with the current administration’s handling of public service examinations.
