From Controversy to Chaos: The BPSC Exam Dispute and Prashant Kishor’s Role in Bihar Protests
Bihar Exam Row: The Chain of Events Leading to Protests and Kishor’s Fast The controversy surrounding the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam has spiraled into a full-blown political issue, with allegations of exam irregularities, police
Bihar Exam Row: The Chain of Events Leading to Protests and Kishor’s Fast
The controversy surrounding the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam has spiraled into a full-blown political issue, with allegations of exam irregularities, police excesses, student unrest, and the intervention of Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, who has now launched a fast-unto-death protest. Here’s a detailed timeline of events:
December 6: Student Concerns Over “Normalization” Spark Protests
A week before the BPSC prelims exam, students protested outside the BPSC office in Patna, demanding clarity on scoring methods. The students opposed the rumored use of the “normalization” process, which adjusts scores across multiple shifts of exams.
Tensions escalated when the police lathi-charged protesters, injuring a student, Vivek Kumar, who sustained a leg fracture. The protests moved to Gardanibagh, where the BPSC assured students in writing that normalization would not be implemented.
December 13: Exam Day Controversy and Invigilator’s Death
The prelims exam was conducted across 912 centers statewide. However, chaos erupted at a Patna test center over delays in question paper distribution.
In the ensuing commotion, 58-year-old invigilator Ram Iqbal Singh suffered a cardiac arrest. Attempts to rush him to the hospital were delayed as protesting students blocked the ambulance’s path. Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh slapped a protester during the melee, further inflaming tensions.
The DM later clarified his actions, but Singh’s family claimed that the stress of the situation caused the invigilator’s death. A retest was ordered for the Patna center, but similar issues surfaced at 30 other centers, including reports of non-functional CCTVs.
December 18: Retest Demands Gain Momentum
Protests resumed as students demanded a statewide retest and the withdrawal of FIRs filed against protesters. Demonstrations intensified despite their limited scale.
December 24: Aspirant’s Suicide Fuels Protests
Sonu Kumar, a BPSC aspirant, died by suicide. While no note was found, his family stated that he was under immense pressure to secure a job. The incident further galvanized the protest movement, with students blaming the system for the stress faced by candidates.
December 25: Police Action and Kishor’s Involvement
Protesters clashed with police again, resulting in injuries to over a dozen students. Protester Khushbu Kumari alleged that male police officers assaulted her, claiming that female officers were absent.
That evening, Prashant Kishor visited the protest site at Gardanibagh, calling for a peaceful march to the Chief Minister’s residence. He convened a meeting of students to decide the next course of action.
December 29: Mass Rally Stopped, Kishor Stages Dharna
Over 15,000 students, led by Kishor, gathered at Gandhi Maidan for a march to CM Nitish Kumar’s office. Security forces intercepted the group en route, prompting Kishor to stage a sit-in.
While the government offered students a meeting with a secretary-level officer, Kishor left the site, citing concerns about potential violence.
December 30: Government Offers Talks, Deadlock Persists
The Nitish Kumar government invited students to meet Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena. A delegation led by Jan Suraaj Party leader RK Mishra attended the meeting but reported no progress.
With no resolution in sight, Kishor began a fast-unto-death protest under Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Gandhi Maidan, giving the government a 48-hour deadline to address student demands.
Current Situation
- FIRs Registered: Two against Kishor and three against protesting students for gathering in restricted areas. No arrests have been made.
- Government Stands: The administration insists that decisions regarding the exam will be based on facts and not influenced by protests.
- BPSC’s Position: The commission remains non-committal, stating it operates autonomously and bases its actions on evidence rather than public outcry.
As Kishor’s fast continues and protests intensify, the students await a decisive response from the government or the BPSC. “I am here because students were beaten. I do not believe in violent protests but in dialogue,” Kishor reiterated.
The controversy has highlighted broader issues of unemployment and governance in Bihar, with Kishor positioning himself as a voice for the youth in the state’s political landscape.
