An uproar has erupted in Bihar over the student protest. Candidates have been demonstrating in Patna for the past fortnight demanding the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam. The situation escalated politically after candidates were baton-charged and subjected to water cannons while approaching the CM's residence in Patna on Sunday. Election strategist turned politician, Prashant Kishor (PK) of Jan Suraj, had convened a student assembly at Gandhi Maidan, which is said to have prompted this move towards the CM's residence, led by PK himself.
In response to the use of force, various organizations, including the All India Student Association (AISA), have called for a Bihar shutdown. The government appears to be on the defensive. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is on a visit to Delhi, while the Chief Secretary has expressed readiness to discuss the issue with BPSC candidates, keeping the government's doors open for them. The protest, serving as the nucleus of Bihar's political struggles, presents multiple fronts: BPSC versus candidates, government versus candidates, and also a unique opposition versus opposition scenario, featuring Tejashwi Yadav and Prashant Kishor (PK) on opposing ends.
The targets of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jan Suraj, both opposition parties, seem to be Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government. Tejashwi Yadav criticized CM Nitish, claiming he is weary and is running the state with retired officers. The use of batons against students on chilly days has sparked outrage, and Yadav condemned the actions during the BPSC protest, accusing the Bihar government of abusing students and aligning himself with their demand for a re-examination.
Tejashwi Yadav, without naming Prashant Kishor, alleged that BJP's 'B Team' cleverly tried to sabotage the movement. He accused PK's team of misleading the students and diverting the peaceful protest from Gardanibagh to Gandhi Maidan. With innuendos directed at PK, he claimed that this leader vowed to lead students, yet disappeared when the baton charge occurred, insinuating PK seeks political gain.
In a counterattack, PK retaliated against Tejashwi Yadav on Monday. During a press conference, PK mentioned that if he had escaped, Tejashwi could have gone to the hospital; it was PK who visited the hospital that previous night. In defense of holding a student assembly at Gandhi Maidan without permission, he argued discussions required no such clearance and claimed that the March had aimed to present a memorandum at every block they were stopped. PK asserted that, having been halted at JP Golambar and informed of talks being possible with the Chief Secretary, he organized a five-student delegation and urged students to disperse and returned to Gandhi Maidan. Despite PK's absence at the moment of the baton charge, he lamented the actions, signaling intent to file an FIR against Patna Police and lodge complaints with the Human Rights Commission. Furthermore, PK warned that if the government does not heed the demands, he would begin a sit-in protest from January 2.
The BPSC protest has placed the Bihar government in a challenging position. The Chief Secretary affirmed government's willingness to engage with BPSC candidates. However, concerns loom over the movement's initiation and management strategies. Senior journalist Omprakash Ashk commented on the initial dismissal of misconduct allegations in the BPSC exam, which were later acknowledged at a single center, prompting a statement about annulment there. Criticism suggests that a more adept handling of the situation was expected.
A further examination of Tejashwi Yadav's treatment of unemployment as a pivotal issue reveals how the Nitish-led government somewhat dulled its edge, yet the protests have still inflicted reputational damage. Meanwhile, BPSC Secretary Satya Prakash Sharma highlighted the absence of irregularities at 911 out of 912 exam centers while conveying openness to dialogue, clarifying that exam cancellation was not on the table.
