Jan Suraj chief Prashant Kishore has criticised the Bihar government for its handling of the ongoing protests by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants, alleging that democracy in the state has been replaced by “lathi-tantra” (rule of the stick).
Expressing solidarity with the aspirants protesting in Patna, Kishore condemned the use of force against individuals exercising their democratic rights.
Key Statements by Prashant Kishore
“In Bihar, democracy has transformed into ‘lathi-tantra’ over the last 1-2 years. If any section of society approaches the government to express their views, the response is often lathi charges. This is detrimental to democracy. The government must listen to the students. If people are expressing their views peacefully and democratically, there is absolutely no justification for lathi charges. I stand with the students. Action should be taken against those responsible for this. We oppose the use of force against students,” he asserted.
Support from Khan Sir
Educator and YouTuber Faizal Khan, popularly known as Khan Sir, joined the protestors on Friday. Urging peaceful demonstrations, he also chanted slogans with the aspirants and raised concerns about the BPSC examination process.
“We are only demanding a re-examination by the commission. They can make it as challenging as they wish; we are not shying away. However, the exam should not feature questions that insult our intelligence. The questions in our class tests are harder than this. Why did the commission conceal evidence and CCTV footage? There are many concerning issues that require investigation,” Khan Sir said.
He further criticised systemic issues, stating:
“First, the country’s GDP declined, then a bridge in Bihar collapsed, and now the BPSC has collapsed.”
Background of the Protests
The protests, which began on December 13, stem from allegations of irregularities in the BPSC examination. Aspirants have alleged the following:
- Question paper leaks.
- Delays in paper distribution, with some receiving papers nearly an hour late.
- Torn answer sheets, raising suspicions of malpractice.
The protesting aspirants gathered outside the commission’s office in Patna, demanding the cancellation of the exam and a re-examination.
Political Reactions
- Lalu Yadav, chief of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), criticised the police action, stating, “They shouldn’t have done this. It’s wrong.”
- Police authorities, however, defended their response, stating that only “mild force” was used and denied any injuries to the protesters.