Patna (Bihar) [India], December 8: Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha on Sunday responded to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s statement calling the state government a “government of sticks and batons.” Sinha rejected the accusation, asserting that the current NDA government does not rule through force.
The exchange between the two leaders came after reports of a lathi-charge on protesting BPSC aspirants in Bihar. Sinha, addressing reporters, said, “It is unfortunate for Bihar that those who come from dynastic backgrounds, like Tejashwi Yadav, have forgotten that those who work hard for years and rise to power with a motto of service do not run a government through violence.”
He continued, “A government of sticks and batons existed in jungle raj… but it has now been replaced by an NDA government dedicated to serving the people.”
The protesting students have been voicing concerns over changes in the BPSC exam pattern and the normalisation process, demanding that exams be held in “One Shift and One Paper” to avoid the normalisation process.
Earlier on Sunday, Tejashwi Yadav criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that the CM was losing control over Bihar and putting the future of students at risk. “This is a government of sticks and batons,” Yadav said, indirectly targeting the NDA government. He also claimed that the CM was unaware of the situation, particularly the difficulties faced by students due to server issues preventing them from submitting their exam forms. Yadav urged the CM to offer an opportunity for those students affected by the technical issues.
The day before, the former Deputy CM condemned the alleged police action against the BPSC aspirants, calling it extreme brutality. He added, “For days, students sought clarification, but only after the violence did they get a response from the commission. The Chief Minister, who oversees the Home Department and police, must take responsibility for this. Law and order in Bihar is deteriorating, and thousands of students were unable to submit their forms due to server outages.”