Rahul Gandhi slams Nitish govt for lathi-charge on BPSC candidates
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the Nitish Kumar-led government for the lathi-charge on Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) candidates in Patna during their protest over the December 13 exams.
In a post on X, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said, “I had said in Parliament that in the same way that Eklavya’s thumb was cut off, the youth’s thumbs are being cut off by leaking the papers.”
He further added, “The latest example of this is Bihar. BPSC candidates are raising their voices against the paper leak and demanding the cancellation of the exam. But to cover up its failure, the NDA government is resorting to lathi-charge on the students,” while sharing a video of the police action.
Expressing his support for the protesters, Gandhi called the incident “extremely shameful and reprehensible,” stating, “Playing with the future of students will not be tolerated. We are with them and will fight to get them justice.”
The protests by BPSC candidates, which began on December 18, have grown more intense, leading to a forceful police response and legal actions against some protesters and alleged instigators.
The candidates are demanding the cancellation of the entire BPSC examination after their dissatisfaction grew when the BPSC only canceled the exam for one center and rescheduled it for January 4, 2025.
On Wednesday evening, protesters attempted to surround the BPSC office, prompting police to intervene, resulting in the lathi-charge.
Patna Police have filed an FIR against protesters, certain coaching institutes, and social media accounts for allegedly spreading misinformation and provoking the candidates.
Anu Kumari, SDPO of Patna’s Sachiwalay, stated, “Accounts such as BPSC Network, Study for Civil Services, Civil Adda, and UPSC Civil Service Examination have been flagged for allegedly misleading posts. We have registered an FIR against them and are serving notices.”
Kumari also explained that the protesters surrounded the BPSC office illegally, disrupting public order, and that the district administration had to use mild force to restore normalcy. The police have urged the public to avoid rumors circulating on social media.
