Bihar bandh called after BPSC paper ‘leak’, Priyanka Gandhi condemns lathi charge on job seekers – What is the matter? , peppermint

Chaos broke out in Bihar’s Patna when police lathi-charged protesters demanding cancellation of the combined preliminary examination conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13. Opposition leaders including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and independent MP Pappu Yadav drew criticism. Police action.

Here’s all you need to know about the BPSC paper ‘leak’ protest.

Why were the protests taking place?

BPSC candidates began protesting on December 13 over alleged irregularities during an examination conducted by the authority. Many candidates said that they received the question paper late by about an hour. Others claimed that answer sheets were torn, raising concerns of a possible leak.

The allegation was that the question paper of the joint preliminary examination was leaked. The candidates also alleged that there was a delay in distributing the papers.

The protesters demanded re-examination of BPSC and cancellation of preliminary examination. He has requested the commission to announce a new date for the trial as soon as possible, news agency PTI reported.

What did the BPSC Chairman say?

Meanwhile, BPSC Chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai had on Tuesday refused to cancel the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 held earlier this month.

However, he made it clear that BPSC will conduct re-examination of the candidates who appeared for the exam on December 13 at the Bapu Examination Complex center in Patna. Manubhai announced that the re-examination will be conducted on January 4, 2025.

BPSC had canceled its combined preliminary examination held at the Bapu Examination Complex in Patna’s Kumhrar area, where an on-duty officer died of a heart attack on December 13 after “unruly” candidates created a ruckus. .

Protest, lathi charge and viral video

As the protest gained momentum, the police reportedly lathicharged the job aspirants. The candidates had gathered to “gherao” the Commission’s office in Patna and demanded cancellation of the examination.

Video clips of police action against job aspirants went viral on social media on Wednesday, showing some personnel chasing and beating protesters, including women. Mint could not confirm the authenticity of the video clip.

congress leader Rahul Gandhi Also shared the video on his X handle on Thursday. He wrote, “I had said in Parliament that just as Eklavya’s thumb was cut off, in the same way the thumbs of the youth are being cut off by leaking papers. The latest example of this is Bihar. BPSC candidates are raising their voice against paper leak and demanding cancellation of the exam…”

However, police department officials issued a clarification, claiming they used “mild force” and denying any injuries to the protesting candidates.

ANI quoted DSP Anu Kumari as saying, “Candidates are continuously protesting at the protest site in Gardanibagh since December 18 for the cancellation of BPSC preliminary exam.”

“These students are being instigated directly and indirectly by some teachers. Besides, many social media handles are misleading and instigating the students,” the police claimed.

“On December 23, a candidate vandalized Gardnibagh Hospital. Later on December 25, hundreds of BPSC candidates surrounded the BPSC office. Law and order issues were created without permission, causing inconvenience to the public. Administration “Mild force was used to disperse the gathering, and no one was hurt,” he said.

Police registered a case against the protesters in connection with Wednesday’s incident. DSP said that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections in Gardanibagh police station against those who instigated the candidates and further action is being taken.

‘Treatment like terrorists’

Some protesters alleged that police treated them “like terrorists”. “The police beat us brutally as if we were terrorists,” said one protester, who declined to be identified.

Some women reached the Gardnibagh protest site wearing bangles. “We have brought bangles for the BPSC officials,” said a woman protester, without disclosing her name.

Bihar bandh on January 1?

Independent MP from Purnia, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has called for Bihar bandh on January 1, 2025, if the joint preliminary examination of December 13 is not cancelled.

“If BPSC does not cancel its December 13 exam, we will call Bihar Bandh on January 1, 2025. I demand immediate cancellation of December 13 exam… If it is canceled in a day or two If it is not done, my supporters will call.” The police lathicharge on protesters during the bandh is highly condemnable.

Opposition leaders criticized

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad said the police should not have “lathi charged” the protesting students and said what was done was wrong. Lalu said, “This should not have been done. It is wrong.”

On Thursday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the police action against job seekers in Patna, saying that the ruling party’s only aim is to save its chair and whoever demands employment will be banned. but is tortured.

Priyanka said, “Lathi charge on the youth with their hands tied is the height of cruelty. Under the BJP rule, the youth seeking employment are beaten with sticks. Be it UP, Bihar or Madhya Pradesh – if the youth raise their voice, they are beaten mercilessly. Is.” Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on his WhatsApp channel.

He said, “It is the job of the government to think about the future of the youth of the world’s youngest country and make policies for it. But the BJP has only the vision of saving its chair.” “Whoever asks for employment is tortured,” the Congress MP said.

Meanwhile RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Slammed Bihar Chief Minister’s “dictatorial decision” and justification for “this hooliganism”.