‘Playing with Future of Students Will…’ Rahul Gandhi Slams Lathi Charge on BPSC Student Protest in Patna

The lathi charge on BPSC students protesting in Patna has sparked a heated debate across nation. In response, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has strongly condemned the police action. The incident occurred during a student protest demanding the cancellation of the combined prelims exam conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13, 2024.

Rahul Gandhi Condemns Police Brutality on BPSC Students

मैंने संसद में कहा था कि जिस तरह एकलव्य का अंगूठा कटवाया गया था उसी तरह पेपर लीक करवाकर युवाओं का अंगूठा काटा जाता है।

इसका ताज़ा उदाहरण बिहार है। BPSC अभ्यार्थी पेपर लीक के ख़िलाफ़ आवाज़ उठा रहे हैं और एग्जाम को रद्द करने की मांग कर रहे हैं।

लेकिन NDA की सरकार अपनी नाकामी को… pic.twitter.com/tJLFzT7GPh

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 26, 2024

Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi expressed his outrage, writing, “I had said in Parliament that in the same way that Eklavya's thumb was cut off, in the same way the thumbs of the youth are cut off by leaking the papers. The latest example of this is Bihar. BPSC candidates are raising their voice against the paper leak and demanding cancellation of the exam. But to hide its failure, the NDA government is instead resorting to lathi charge on the students.” He further added, “This is extremely shameful and reprehensible. Playing with the future of students will not be tolerated. We are with them and will fight to get them justice.”

BPSC Student Protest Escalates After Alleged Paper Leak

The BPSC student protest began on December 13 when candidates raised concerns about irregularities during the exam. Several aspirants reported receiving the question paper nearly an hour late, while others claimed that answer sheets were torn. These claims fueled fears that there had been a leak of the question paper. The protesting candidates are demanding the cancellation of the exam due to these serious allegations.

Bihar Government's Response to BPSC Students’ Concerns

Despite the protests, Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai confirmed on Tuesday that the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 would not be canceled. However, he clarified that a re-examination would be held for candidates who appeared at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre in Patna on December 13. The re-exam is scheduled for January 4, 2025.

The original exam at the Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre in Patna had to be canceled following a tragic incident, where an official on duty passed away from a heart attack after a disturbance caused by unruly candidates.

Leaders Demand Immediate Action on BPSC Exam Controversy

Political leaders have also voiced their concerns over the handling of the BPSC student protest. Prunea MP Pappu Yadav demanded the immediate cancellation of the December 13 exam. He warned that if the exam was not canceled within a day or two, his supporters would call for a Bihar bandh on January 1, 2025. Yadav condemned the police baton charges on the protesters, calling them “highly condemnable.”