Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the site of the ongoing BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) protests in Patna on Saturday, offering his full support to the agitating students. The protest, which has been ongoing for nearly a month, is driven by allegations of irregularities in the BPSC exams.
After completing his scheduled engagements, Gandhi made a brief visit to the protest site, where he spent time with the students. He was greeted by a delegation of protesters who urged him to visit Gardani Bagh, the focal point of the protest, where aspirants have been holding a round-the-clock demonstration seeking the cancellation of the Combined Competitive Exam held in December.
One of the protesters, Suman Saurabh from Sitamarhi, expressed their hopes, saying, “We requested Rahul Gandhi to visit Gardani Bagh, our ‘dharmabhoomi’ and ‘karmabhoomi’. He assured us that he would take some time off, and his support as the Leader of the Opposition means a great deal to us.”
Gandhi took time to listen to the concerns of the students, many of whom raised slogans calling for a re-exam. They also voiced their frustration with the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, accusing it of ignoring their grievances.
Notably, during the protest, Gandhi was shown a video of the police lathi charge that took place last month, where authorities used water cannons and baton charges to disperse students gathered at Gandhi Maidan. Ramanshu Sir, a local tutor supporting the protests, shared the footage with Gandhi, who promised to raise the matter in Parliament. The video evoked strong emotions, with one teacher comparing the police crackdown to British colonial oppression.
One protester, unable to reach Gandhi in person, shouted from a distance, recounting instances of mistreatment by the state government, including an incident where a student was slapped by the Patna District Magistrate on exam day. The protester also claimed that students were pushed away when they tried to submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had refused to meet them during a recent tour of Samastipur.
In response, Gandhi took to social media, voicing his support for the students. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims Bihar is moving forward with a ‘double engine’. But in reality, it is a failed engine, running over the dreams of hard-working students.”
He further urged Bihar’s Chief Minister to meet the protesting students and address their demands seriously. Gandhi also made a pointed reference to the Mahabharata, warning that “today’s Eklavya cannot be made to cut off his own thumb,” emphasizing the importance of justice for the students.
The protests were sparked by allegations of a paper leak during the BPSC exams held on December 13, 2024. Over 400,000 candidates sat for the exam at more than 900 centers across the state, but many boycotted the test, alleging malpractice. While the BPSC denied the allegations, it ordered a re-examination for more than 12,000 candidates assigned to the Bapu Pariksha Parisar center in Patna. This decision has led to further resentment among other students, who argue that it undermines the fairness of the process.
The demand for a re-examination has gained traction, with political figures such as Prashant Kishor, founder of Jan Suraaj Party, offering legal support to students who have approached the Patna High Court seeking the cancellation of the exams. Kishor also ended a two-week hunger strike after it became clear that the Chief Minister was unwilling to engage in dialogue with the students.
The protests continue as the students seek justice and accountability in the wake of the alleged exam irregularities.
