Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishor has declared his commitment to an indefinite hunger strike until the Bihar government addresses the demands of students protesting the alleged question paper leak in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination.
“There is no question of withdrawing my fast, not until the demands of the students are met. We suggested from our end that the CM should meet the students and together they should bring out a solution. If that happens, then I have no problem stopping the fast,” Kishor told media.
The controversy surrounds the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 conducted by BPSC on December 13. Students are demanding the exam’s cancellation following allegations of a question paper leak. Kishor stressed that the fast and protests would continue until the students’ concerns are acknowledged and resolved.
“Till the students’ demands are met—students who have come here leaving everything to protest in the cold—the fast and protest cannot stop. I have communicated this to the administration,” he stated.
Kishor also addressed allegations by MP Pappu Yadav, who claimed Kishor was secretly consuming food during the hunger strike. Responding to the accusations, Kishor said, “If someone criticizes me but still supports the students, I have no problems with that. I even told Tejashwi Yadav, as the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Assembly, he should lead, and we will support him. If he or even Rahul Gandhi comes here, the students’ problems can be resolved.”
Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, who visited Kishor during the protest, assessed his health and found no complications. “For now, whatever I have seen, he is fit. To protect against the cold, one must cover oneself adequately. Based on all parameters, there is no danger to him. I believe his immunity might be good, which is why he is doing well now,” the doctor said.
The ongoing protest has drawn attention to the alleged irregularities in the BPSC examination process, with students demanding accountability and transparency. Kishor’s hunger strike adds pressure on the Bihar government to engage in dialogue and take action to address the students’ grievances.