BPSC Protests: Prashant Kishor Appeals to Students Amid Ongoing Demonstrations and Allegations of Exam Irregularities

The BPSC protests have been ongoing since December 13, 2024, following allegations of irregularities in the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). Aspirants claim that the question papers were leaked, and there were significant delays in distributing the papers, leading to widespread suspicions of malpractice. Some candidates reported receiving the question paper nearly an hour late, while others noted that their answer sheets were torn, further fueling the allegations of a potential leak.

The protests have escalated, with demonstrators demanding the cancellation of the December 13 exam and a re-examination. The situation turned tragic with the reported suicide of a 25-year-old civil service aspirant named Sonu in Patna, who was under immense stress due to the competitive exam pressures. Prashant Kishor, leader of the Jan Suraaj party, has been actively involved in supporting the protesting students. He visited the designated protest site at Gardani Bagh in Patna and condemned the police's use of baton charges to disperse the crowd, calling it "highly unacceptable".

Kishor has issued a three-day ultimatum to the Bihar government, demanding that they engage with the protesting students and consider their demands for a re-examination. He also called for the government to announce a compensation of ₹10 lakh for Sonu's family, describing the incident as "deeply unfortunate". Kishor warned that if the government fails to address the issue within three days, he would join the protest march and stand at the forefront.

Prominent leaders, including Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and Congress, have also condemned the police action against the aspirants. RJD leader and Purnea MP Pappu Yadav has threatened a statewide bandh on January 1 if the December 13 examination is not canceled, emphasizing the need for the government to prioritize the concerns of job seekers.

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The protests have seen various forms of public support and criticism. While some, like Patna-based vlogger Motiur Rahman Khan, accused Kishor of trying to gain political mileage from the protests, others have supported his involvement. The police have denied any injuries to the protesting aspirants, stating that only "mild force" was used.