Protesting candidates demanding a re-examination of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary test met with Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena on Monday. However, they expressed dissatisfaction, stating that they received no concrete assurances or timelines for resolving their grievances, including the withdrawal of FIRs filed against over a dozen students.
The protest gained political momentum after Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor backed the students' demands. On Sunday, Kishor led a procession supporting the students but faced criticism for allegedly leaving the protest site during police action involving lathi charges and water cannons. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav accused him of “running away,” while JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar labeled him a “political fugitive.”
On Monday, Kishor issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Nitish Kumar-led government to address the students’ demands. “The future of our young students should take precedence over politics at this moment,” he remarked.
Before the students’ meeting with the chief secretary, Kishor alleged corruption within the BPSC. He claimed that “thousands of crores of rupees” had exchanged hands for vacant positions. He criticized the CM’s silence, stating, “While candidates are protesting in the biting cold and facing baton charges and water cannons, the CM is away in Delhi, avoiding the issue.”
Ultimatum and Warning
Kishor added, “We will wait until January 1 for a positive outcome. Bureaucrats have time to consult the CM and resolve the issue. If no resolution is reached within 48 hours, students will resume protests, including road blockades.”
Backdrop of the Protests
The protests began on December 18, with candidates demanding a re-examination of the preliminary test conducted on December 13 across 912 centers. Allegations of irregularities arose after the exam was canceled at a Patna center due to delays in distributing question papers.
A student leader who participated in the meeting with the chief secretary commented, “We highlighted the need for equal treatment for all candidates. Conducting a fresh exam for approximately 18,000 students at one center is unfair. We also called for the withdrawal of FIRs filed against students. While the chief secretary listened to our demands, he did not provide any concrete assurances.” The meeting was facilitated by Jan Suraaj Party leader and former IPS officer R.K. Mishra.
Political Reactions
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of fostering a "paper leak mafia" that threatens the future of India’s youth. Condemning the police action, he stated, “When rigging is exposed, the BJP either denies it or suppresses student protests with lathi charges.”
Kharge alleged that more than 70 exam papers had been leaked in the past seven years, affecting the futures of 3.28 lakh BPSC candidates. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticized the government, describing it as a symbol of "double atrocities" on youth. She posted on X, “Using water cannons and lathi charges against students in this harsh winter is inhumane. The BJP’s double-engine government has failed to address corruption and examination malpractices.”
The BPSC controversy has drawn nationwide attention, with students and political leaders urging immediate resolution to safeguard the integrity of the examination process and the aspirations of thousands of candidates.