Bihar: Mild lathicharge by police to disperse protesting BPSC aspirants in Patna
Patna, Dec 6: Police used mild lathicharge on Friday to disperse a large group of protesting aspirants near the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) office in Patna, who were demanding withdrawal of "changes" to the rules for the 70th BPSC Preliminary Examination scheduled for December 13. The BPSC, however, denied any changes to the examination process.
According to senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra, a large number of aspirants gathered near the BPSC office on Bailey Road around noon, attempting to march towards the office.
"When police and administration officials prevented them from proceeding, the protesters sat on the road, disrupting traffic. Despite repeated requests to vacate the area, they refused to leave. Since it is a restricted area and protests are not allowed there, a mild lathi-charge was used to disperse them," Mishra said.
While eyewitnesses alleged that two or three aspirants were injured during the lathi-charge, the SSP denied these claims, stating, "No protesters sustained any injury. Mild force was used to disperse those who tried to break the police barricade. We are registering an FIR against the protesters, and all CCTV footage is being analysed for further action."
The protesters were demanding that the BPSC preliminary examination be conducted in a "one shift, one paper" format, rather than using the 'normalisation of marks' process. Normalisation equalises scores from exams held in multiple shifts using a statistical formula.
Meanwhile, Patna-based tutor and YouTuber Khan Sir expressed support for the protesters. He joined the demonstration near Gardani Bagh, a designated area for protests, and sat on dharna with the aspirants.
Khan Sir demanded that the BPSC chairman issue a statement ruling out the use of the 'normalisation process' for the examination and extend the examination date, as many aspirants faced technical issues while applying. "As long as the chairman does not issue a clarification, our dharna will continue," Khan Sir told reporters.
Reacting to allegations that Khan Sir was detained by police, the SSP told reporters that he willingly went to Gardani Bagh police station to reiterate that the agitation will continue. "Students have been on a dharna since morning and the government must look into their demands," he said.
Khan Sir, widely known for his online coaching for competitive exams, has a significant following among students.
The 70th BPSC Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination, scheduled for December 13, will recruit candidates for Group A and B posts. Around five lakh candidates are expected to appear for the exam, which will be conducted across 925 centres.
This protest follows earlier demands by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who called for clarification on the 'normalisation process' and urged the BPSC to revert to the previous exam format.
"The BPSC should conduct exams as they were previously done, without the normalisation process. The Commission should also extend the examination date," Yadav said in a statement.
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Posters declaring Samrat as new Bihar CM put up outside Patna BJP office as Nitish heads to Delhi
Patna (PTI): Posters declaring Samrat Choudhary, the deputy CM of Bihar, as the man who would head the new government in the state, were on Thursday put up outside the BJP office in Patna as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left for Delhi to be sworn in as a Rajya Sabha MP.
The posters, a few of which were pulled down by the party office staff, bore the label of 'Valmiki Samaj', a community of Dalits associated with scavenging work.
"We do not know who has put up these posters. We can, at this moment, only say that who would be the next CM is a decision to be taken collectively, as has been the party's tradition," BJP state media in charge Danish Eqbal told reporters.
Speculations are rife that upon being sworn in as Rajya Sabha MP on Friday, Kumar, who turned 75 last month, will hold the last meeting of his cabinet next week before giving up the chief minister's post.
Choudhary, who is seen as the front-runner among those in the race for the top job, has experienced a meteoric rise since he joined the BJP less than a decade ago.
Hailing from the Koeri caste, an influential OBC group which both the BJP and the main opposition party RJD have been trying to woo with equal intensity, Choudhary was made the state party president in 2023 and became the Deputy CM a year later, when the NDA was back in power following the JD(U) supremo's return to the coalition.
When the NDA retained power in the assembly polls held last year, Choudhary returned as Deputy CM, this time with the crucial Home portfolio, which Kumar had so far been averse to parting with.
According to sources in the BJP, which is currently the single largest party in the 243-strong assembly, the new government will be formed after April 14, when the month-long inauspicious Hindu calendar period of 'Kharmaas' ends.
The sources said top leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to be present at a "grand ceremony" that will mark the formation of the "first ever BJP government in Bihar", the only Hindi heartland state where the seat of power has eluded the party.
While Choudhary was being admittedly seen as the "most preferred" candidate for the top job, a "surprise" could not be ruled out since the final decision would be taken by the BJP's top leadership, known for adopting a "shock and awe" strategy.
Meanwhile, JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad was asked about reports that the BJP was likely to hold a meeting in Delhi to discuss the formation of the new government in Bihar.
Prasad told PTI Video, "Of course, being a significant constituent of the NDA, the BJP has the right to hold deliberations on the emerging situation. But one thing is clear. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's consent will be sought while deciding his successor. Moreover, he will continue to spend as much time as possible in the state to offer guidance to the new government."
