Protests by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants demanding a re-examination of the 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) intensified in Patna today, with police resorting to lathi charges and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The protests, which have been ongoing for more than 10 days, are fueled by allegations of a paper leak at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar exam center.
Thousands of students gathered at Gandhi Maidan in Patna earlier today before marching towards JP Golambar, hoping to reach the residence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. However, the police had not granted permission for the protestors to march and blocked their path. The students, who have been demanding a meeting with the Chief Minister to address their concerns, faced the use of force when they attempted to proceed despite the police objections.
The protests stem from claims that a paper leak occurred at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar exam center, which led to calls for a re-test of the 70th CCE. While the BPSC had conducted a re-examination at that center, the commission has stated that the irregularities were isolated and did not justify the cancellation of the entire exam. The students, however, have remained adamant, demanding the full cancellation of the exam and a fair process.
In response to the escalating protests, Prashant Kishor, the founder of Jan Suraj, joined the demonstrators, expressing his full support for the students. He marched with the protesters to JP Golambar and announced that a five-member student delegation would meet with the Chief Secretary to present their demands. However, the students rejected this proposal, insisting on meeting with the Chief Minister directly.
When the protestors refused to disperse, the police used force to clear the area, with water cannons and lathi charges deployed to disperse the crowd. Despite the police action, the students remained steadfast in their demands. Kishor returned to Gandhi Maidan, while the protestors held their ground at the protest site.
Earlier in the day, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) had called for a ‘chakka jam’ protest in response to the police’s use of force on students. The protests have become a symbol of the ongoing struggle for transparency in the BPSC exams. Students have continued to gather, growing in numbers as they press for a re-examination.
BPSC officials have reiterated their stance that the 70th CCE exam will not be canceled, citing the successful conduct of the examination across over 900 centers in the state. The commission’s Examination Controller, Rajesh Kumar Singh, emphasized that the exam was conducted with full transparency and that only a small section of candidates were protesting. Singh urged students to focus on their upcoming main examinations, scheduled for April, rather than continuing with the protests.
Despite these assertions, the protests continue to gain momentum, with students firm in their belief that the exam was marred by irregularities, which they argue must be addressed through a cancellation. The unrest is now entering its second week, with no clear resolution in sight as tensions between the students and the authorities escalate.
The BPSC, however, remains resolute, maintaining that the examination was conducted fairly, with only minor irregularities at the one center in question. The outcome of this protest may set the tone for how future examination-related issues are addressed in Bihar.
Sources By Agencies
