Prashant Kishor Detained by Patna Police Amid Ongoing Hunger Strike for BPSC Exam Reforms
In a significant development, Prashant Kishor, the chief of the Jan Suraaj party, was detained by Patna Police early on Monday morning as they cleared the protest site at Gandhi Maidan. Kishor has been engaged in an indefinite hunger strike since January 2, advocating for action against alleged irregularities related to the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam paper leak.
Kishor commenced his fast to express solidarity with students calling for the cancellation of the BPSC exams following accusations of misconduct. During his detention, he was transferred to an ambulance for medical attention. Earlier, he indicated plans to file a petition in the high court on January 7 regarding the BPSC controversies.
“We are committed to our cause and will continue our protest despite these actions,” Kishor stated. “On January 7, we will present our petition to the High Court.”
On Sunday, Kishor joined students gathered at Gandhi Maidan, urging Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), to take the lead in the protests given his prominent political status. “He is an influential leader and should be at the forefront of this movement,” Kishor remarked, emphasizing that the protest was not affiliated with any political party, but rather focused on addressing the students’ demands.
“This is more than just a sit-in; it embodies the determination of the people of Bihar to improve their circumstances and secure a brighter future,” Kishor added, highlighting the resilience shown by protesters in the harsh winter conditions.
In a parallel development, Tejashwi Yadav criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly politicizing the student-led protests. He accused the BJP of attempting to undermine this independent movement by calling its supporters “the BJP’s B team,” indicating that their involvement was meant to dilute the sincerity of the students’ demands.
Yadav further remarked on Kishor’s situation, suggesting that there were attempts to undermine the movement and questioning the motives behind the alleged placement of a vanity van for Kishor.
Students are currently demanding the annulment of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination 2024 conducted by the BPSC on December 13, amidst claims of prior question paper distribution.
