BPSC protesters say got no assurance after meeting Bihar Chief Secy, Prashant Kishor issues ultimatum

On Monday, Kishor issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the CM Nitish Kumar-led state government to resolve the matter or else the students would resume protest with more intensity. “As of now, the future of our young students should be the top priority. We can play the game of politics later,” he said.

Earlier in the day, before the students met the chief secretary, Kishor alleged that there was corruption and said that he had learnt of “thousands of crores of rupees having changed hands” for the vacant posts to be filled up through the examination conducted by the BPSC. He also wondered why CM Nitish Kumar was “silent” when “the candidates are protesting in biting cold, braving baton charges by the police and water cannons. The CM is away in Delhi, and having a good time. He did not utter a single word when reporters in the national capital approached him with queries on the stir.”

BPSC conducts several recruitment exams to fill Group A, B, C posts in the state administration of Bihar. (Representative image/ PTI Photo)

Regarding the ultimatum, Kishor said, “We will wait for a positive outcome from the state government until January 1. We are giving the bureaucrats time to consult the CM and take a call on the BPSC matter on top priority. If the matter is not resolved within 48 hours, students would resume their protests and there will be road blockades, something that the government would not want.”

Since December 18, hundreds of candidates have been demanding a re-examination of the preliminary test conducted by the BPSC across all 912 centres. The test was held on December 13 and the commission cancelled the exam at a Patna centre following allegations that there was delay in distributing the question papers.

A student leader, who was part of the delegation that met Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, said, “The chief secretary listened to our demands. We tried to impress upon him that there should be a right to equality for all students. Fresh examination for about 18,000 candidates at a Patna centre was not fair. Also, FIRs lodged against students for alleged ruckus at a Patna centre should be withdrawn. The chief secretary listened to us but did not give any concrete assurance.”

The meeting between the students and Meena was facilitated by Jan Suraaj Party leader and former IPS officer R K Mishra.

Mounting an attack on the BJP, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the party of “spreading a web of paper leak mafia across the country that is ruining the future of the youth”.

Condemning the lathi-charge and use of water cannons on protesting students, Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X, “When rigging is detected, the BJP shamelessly denies or tries to silence the youth by lathi-charging them.”

“The attempt to break the morale of the youth by using dictatorship against them is extremely shameful and condemnable,” he said.

More than 70 papers have been leaked in the past seven years, Kharge alleged, adding that the future of 3.28 lakh youth who took the BPSC exam is hanging in the balance.

Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged that the “double-engine” BJP government in Bihar has become a symbol of “double atrocities” on youth, and said in a post in Hindi on X, “It is inhuman to spray water and lathi-charge on youth in this harsh cold. BJP’s double-engine has become a symbol of double atrocities on youth.”

“It is the government’s job to stop corruption, rigging and paper leaks in examinations. But instead of stopping corruption, students are being prevented from raising their voices,” she said. With PTI inputs