New Delhi, Dec 30 (UITV)- Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday strongly criticised the BJP-led double-engine government in Bihar for allegedly “torturing” students in Patna. The criticism came in the context of the incident when Patna police on Sunday lathi-charged and water-cannoned thousands of candidates protesting against irregularities in the 70th BPSC combined preliminary examination.
Priyanka Gandhi posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) about the incident and said, “This is the second such atrocity on students in Bihar within three days. It is the government’s job to stop corruption, rigging, paper leaks in examinations, but instead of stopping corruption, students are being prevented from raising their voice. Water-cannoning and lathi-charging youth in this harsh cold is inhuman. BJP’s double engine has become a symbol of double atrocities on youth.” Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks raise questions on the policies of the Bihar government, which she has accused of anti-student action.
The protest intensified on Sunday when the students started protesting against the alleged irregularities in the BPSC exam. The students sat on a dharna near Gandhi Maidan over allegations of rigging and corruption in the examinations. The police asked them to vacate the road several times, but when the protesters did not calm down, the police took action. First water was sprayed, but when the protesters did not move even after this, the police lathi-charged. Many protesters were injured in this lathi charge.
The protesting students alleged that the police used excessive physical force against them. Student leaders said that the police forcibly dragged the students from the streets and also used tear gas. During this, women candidates also complained of misbehavior, which further increased the protest. The students were demanding that the alleged irregularities in the 70th BPSC examination be investigated and the examination be canceled.
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Meanwhile, the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has announced a re-examination on January 4, 2024. This exam will especially include those candidates who appeared at the Bapu Campus examination center in Patna on December 13. The commission announced that this re-examination will be conducted for those candidates who saw their examination affected due to cheating or malpractice in the examination.
The incident has also created a stir in political circles in Bihar. Congress, RJD and other opposition parties have accused the state government and BJP of suppressing the voice of the students. At the same time, the BJP denied this allegation and said that the police only took action to control the situation and gave priority to the safety of the students.
Priyanka Gandhi’s statement and the student protests in Bihar have brought the issue to national attention. This development raises questions about the educational and administrative environment of Bihar. The issues being raised by the students, such as corruption in the examination, paper leak and transparency of the examination system, have now become a part of political discourse.
In the wake of student protests in Bihar, anger and discontent against the state government is growing. It has become clear that a huge struggle is going on for the students in Bihar on the issue of education and examination system. This struggle has not only challenged the state government but has also provided a strong platform to the voice of the students from which this matter can move forward.
