Renowned educator and YouTuber Faizal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, was released from Patna’s Gardanibagh Police Station late on Friday night after being detained earlier in the day. His detention followed his participation in protests led by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants against changes in the exam pattern.
The students have been demanding that the exams be conducted in “One Shift and One Paper” to avoid the normalisation process, which they believe is unfair.
Earlier, Special Executive Magistrate MS Khan urged protestors to vacate the protest site, stating:
“The protestors will have to leave the protesting site. I have just reached here. I am not aware. Khan Sir was detained and now he is leaving. Now, I don’t know where he is going or where he is being taken. Nobody is inside. They will have to leave the Dharna-sthal.”
Khan Sir, while addressing the media, emphasized that their demands are apolitical and focused solely on fairness in the examination process.
“Only a week is left. How unfortunate is this that we need to protest for our demand on the land of Chanakya and that too, just one week before the examinations. We want the president (of BPSC) to say that there will be no normalisation. The examinations will be held in one shift, and one paper will be given to all the students. We don’t have personal qualms with anyone. The process can be good, but the person implementing it should also be good. Can they assure us that? We will not move from here until normalisation is assured to be removed,” he said.
Urging for understanding from the authorities, he added:
“We request the police administration to understand that your children are also studying here. We also teach them. We believe in the Constitution. That’s why we are not protesting on the streets. We reached the Dharna-sthal (protesting site) to protest constitutionally. We will make sure that the normalisation (process) is cancelled. We don’t have any expectations from BPSC. We have hopes from the government. We have nothing to do with politics. We will stand with those who will listen to our demands.”
Khan Sir reiterated the students’ demands, calling for one shift, one exam, and one paper. He also highlighted issues such as the rejection of student forms due to server discrepancies, demanding corrective measures and consideration for an extension of the exam date.