Bihar Police on Sunday used mild lathicharge and water cannon to disperse BPSC aspirants protesting at Gandhi Maidan in Patna demanding re-conduct of the 70th BPSC preliminary examination.
SP City Sweety Sehrawat said that the students pushed with the police, after which the police used water cannons on them.
He said, “We requested the protesting students to vacate the place, but they did not listen to us… We also said that they can put forward their demands and we are ready to listen to them. They also pushed and pushed, after which we showered water on them.”
The BPSC candidates along with Jan Suraj Party founder Prashant Kishore were demanding re-conduct of the 70th preliminary examination. One candidate said that he did not want to become a victim of politics and efforts were being made to divert the issue.
He said, “We do not want to become victims of their (political leaders’) politics. We have only one demand, we want re-examination. Efforts are being made to divert the issue. We do not want politics on this issue, we only want Want to re-examine.”
“We are against all political parties,” said another candidate.
Meanwhile, Jan Suraj chief Prashant Kishore said that if any injustice is done to the students, he will stand with them with full force.
He said, “Government officials present here have assured us that the government has agreed to discuss the demands of the students and the five-member students’ committee will now go and talk to the Chief Secretary so that a decision can be taken on the problems and demands of the students.” If the students or the student organization of BPSC candidates are not satisfied after talking to the secretary, then a decision will be taken tomorrow morning on further agitation.”
He further said, “I would request the students not to do anything right now which is not lawful. If the decision is not in favor of the students, if there is any injustice done to the students then we will stand with them with all our strength.” “I am with the students.”
On Saturday, Delhi Police detained members of the Students Federation of India (SFI), who were protesting outside Bihar Bhawan in Delhi against the police lathi charge on BPSC aspirants in Patna.
Protesting students in Patna are demanding cancellation of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13.
