NEW DELHI: Chaotic scenes unfolded in Bihar’s Patna on Tuesday as agitated students clashed with police during a massive protest over alleged irregularities in the 70th BPSC examination.The protest was met with a heavy police presence, with barricades put up to stop the students from marching ahead. Police also used water cannons as protesters tried to push through the barricades.Later, the Samrat Choudhary-led government claimed it had addressed “almost all issues” raised by the students. The protesters, however, said several long-standing demands remained unresolved and continued their agitation.The students marched from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan. Police used water cannons to disperse them, while several protesters were detained as they tried to move towards the restricted area.The protesting students also broke the barricades in bid to gherao chief minister’s residence.The protest has also brought into focus delays in recruitment examinations, the proposed format of the Teacher Recruitment Examination-4 (TRE-4), alleged paper leaks and demands for greater transparency in Bihar’s recruitment system.
Govt says students’ issues have been addressed
Bihar education minister Mithilesh Tiwari said the government had resolved the issues raised by the students and maintained that its doors remained open for further dialogue.“All the issues over which the students were staging a sit-in have been resolved. It is not as if the student agitation was the sole reason for this; it is the government’s very intent to resolve the problems faced by our youth in a timely manner. We have addressed every issue raised by the youth. I was surprised to hear a person who has never even taken a board exam offering suggestions on examinations. That is why I would say to Tejashwi Yadav to enroll in a Bihar government school, pass the tenth-grade exam, and then come back to offer us suggestions on examinations,” Tiwari said.The minister said that almost all the demands had been met and invited students to approach the government with any remaining concerns.“We have met almost all the students’ demands. For any students who wish to convey further points to the government, the doors for dialogue remain wide open. Let the students come, talk, and get their issues resolved; the government belongs to them,” he said.However, the protesters said their concerns had not been fully addressed and that problems related to the education system, examination paper leaks and delayed recruitment continued.
‘Do you need 1,800 years?’ Students question recruitment delays
Protester Vikas Bhatt said the students were demanding improvements in Bihar’s education system and action against repeated examination paper leaks.“Our demand is that the education system in Bihar be improved. We are raising issues regarding the frequent exam paper leaks in the state. Look at the recruitment for librarians, it hasn’t happened for 18 years; do you need 1,800 years? Whenever we stage a protest, they simply offer assurances and leave it at that. How can things go on like this? Three recruitment drives were announced through the BSSC, but it has been three years. We have repeatedly besieged the BSSC commission, demanding that the exam dates be announced. Despite this, they keep asking for 15 days’ time. Apart from the BPSC, there isn’t a single commission in Bihar that issues an annual calendar,” Bhatt said.The students are demanding the cancellation of the 70th BPSC examination over allegations of irregularities and paper leaks.The agitation has also centred on the proposed TRE-4 examination. Students have opposed the proposal to conduct the examination in two phases across Bihar and are demanding that it be held in a single phase.They have also sought the immediate release of the official TRE-4 advertisement.
Students break through barricades during Raj Bhavan march
As the protest continued, students marched from Gandhi Maidan towards Raj Bhavan. Some protesters broke through police barricades and attempted to move towards the restricted area.Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd, while several protesters were detained.DSP Kamakhya Narayan Singh said the police would not allow the protesters to enter the restricted area, although he expressed hope that the ongoing talks between students and senior officials would lead to a resolution.“We will stop them; we won’t let them proceed further. However, the dialogue has been positive, and we hope the students will agree. They have raised several issues with the senior officials, and the outcome has been positive. So, I expect the turnout to be lower and that they will agree. If they don’t, we will stop them right here. We won’t allow them to enter the restricted area,” Singh said.Congress leader Sushil Kumar, who was present at the protest site, said the government had failed to give assurances on several key demands.“We want to state clearly that a single-stage examination must be implemented for TRE 4.0 at all costs, and negative marking should be abolished. There are numerous other issues as well, regarding the BPSC, BSSC, Sub-Inspector recruitment. The government has offered no assurances on any of these points. We have urged the Chief Minister to hold a dialogue; he should invite our delegation for talks. We have been on a hunger strike for nine days, yet no one is willing to listen to us. Just imagine, had the government engaged in dialogue, this situation would not have arisen. We are heading towards the Chief Minister’s residence; the Chief Minister should hold talks, and our delegation will go there for the discussion,” Kumar told news agency ANI.
JD(U) says govt is serious about students’ concerns
JD(U) leader Shravan Kumar said the Bihar government was taking the concerns of students and job seekers seriously and was acting according to established rules and legal provisions.“The government is taking the demands and concerns of students and job seekers seriously. Everything is being done for them in accordance with established rules, laws, and provisions. Bihar is the first state in the country to have made such large-scale recruitments across government departments,” Kumar said.He also pointed to the government’s employment target for the 2025-2030 period and urged young people not to be influenced by the opposition.“It is Nitish Kumar’s resolve to provide 10 million (1 crore) jobs and employment opportunities to the people of Bihar between 2025 and 2030. Recruitments are taking place in every sector, and vacancies are being announced in every department. I urge our youth to exercise patience and not fall for the opposition’s ploys; they are not going to provide jobs. They merely intend to exploit your hard work and sweat to further their own political interests. Beware of them,” he added.
Tejashwi writes to Samrat Choudhary
Meanwhile, Bihar leader of opposition Tejashwi Yadav has written to chief minister Samrat Choudhary over the ongoing BPSC row, urging the government not to ignore the students’ demands and to hold talks for an early resolution.Yadav has demanded that TRE-4 be conducted as a single examination across the state. He has also sought an end to what he described as discrimination against Hindi-speaking candidates in the BPSC Civil Services Main Examination and interview.The RJD leader has further demanded complete transparency in all competitive examinations, including those for Sub-Inspector, Constable, BSSC and BPSC recruitments.Among his other demands are a high-level independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in past examinations, strict action against recruitment mafias and time-bound schedules for all pending tests.He has specifically called for clear timelines for the BSSC Intermediate, CGL, ASO, BSO, Librarian and Accountant recruitment examinations.RJD scion Tejashwi remark also followed BPSC official’s “dog-barking” remark. Bihar LoP also called for action for his remark referring to students.
Share your thoughts in the comments
Be respectful · TOI community guidelines
Bihar launches monthly student support camps
Amid the continuing protests, the Bihar government on Tuesday launched the monthly ‘Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir’ or student support camps to address students’ grievances.The camps will be organised at educational institutions on the fourth Tuesday of every month, chief minister Samrat Choudhary said in a social media post.“The Bihar government is launching Vidyarthi Sahyog Shivir starting today to ensure prompt resolution of students’ grievances. These camps will be organised at educational institutions on the fourth Tuesday of every month,” Choudhary wrote.The camps will allow students to raise their grievances directly with the concerned government officials. Students will also be able to register complaints online and track their status through the portal and Helpline 1100.The government’s announcement comes as the student protest continues in Patna’s Gardanibagh area, with the two sides offering sharply different views on whether the protesters’ demands have been addressed.