BPSC Protest: Police Detains Prashant Kishor and Evicts Gandhi Maidan

Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor was detained by Patna Police early on January 6, 2024, while on an indefinite hunger strike demanding accountability for the alleged Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam paper leak.

The police cleared the area at Gandhi Maidan, where Kishor was fasting alongside protesting students advocating for the cancellation of the BPSC exam. Officials conducted vehicle checks leaving the site during the operation. Kishor’s protest began on January 2 in solidarity with the students affected by the alleged exam irregularities.

Before his detention, Kishor was transported in an ambulance, emphasizing his party’s intention to escalate the situation legally. “We will file a petition in the High Court on January 7 regarding the BPSC irregularities. Our protest will continue, unchanged,” he stated.

On January 5, Kishor engaged with students at Gandhi Maidan and called on Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav to take lead in the protests, reinforcing the notion that Yadav, as Leader of the Opposition, should spearhead the movement. “He is a prominent leader and should be at the forefront of this protest,” Kishor said in response to Yadav’s earlier comments.

Kishor stressed that the gathering is not merely a political rally but a representation of the people’s passion for a better future in Bihar. “This is not a dharna; it is the voice of the people seeking change,” he declared, dismissing accusations of vanity and claiming he was here to support the students’ agenda.

On January 4, Yadav accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the BPSC protests for their own political advantage, describing some protest participants as the BJP’s ‘B team’ attempting to undermine the independent student-led movement.

Students are demanding the cancellation of the Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024, conducted by the BPSC on December 13, due to allegations of question paper leaks.