On Sunday, December 29, 2024, a confrontation occurred between Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants and political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor in Patna. The students were protesting at Gandhi Maidan, demanding a re-examination of the 70th BPSC preliminary exam, alleging a question paper leak, and seeking a meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
The situation intensified when police employed lathi-charge and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. The aspirants expressed their frustration towards Kishor, accusing him of being absent during the police action despite his previous support for their cause. Upon his arrival at the protest site, he was met with chants of “Prashant Kishor, go back,” leading to a heated exchange. Kishor’s remark, “You take blankets from us and then show us attitude,” further angered the protesters, who questioned his absence during the police crackdown.
Following the incident, Kishor held a press conference on Monday, December 30, 2024, where he refuted the allegations and provided a detailed account of the events. He reaffirmed his support for the students’ cause, condemning the police action, and announced plans to file an FIR against Patna Police, take the matter to court, and approach the Human Rights Commission. Kishor also warned that if no resolution is reached in the delegation meeting, he would join the protest starting January 2.
In a related development, the Bihar Police have filed a case against Prashant Kishor and others for allegedly instigating the protests by BPSC aspirants.
The protest, which began on December 13, the day of the exam, has garnered support from key politicians, educationists, and activists. The aspirants continue to demand a re-examination of the 70th BPSC preliminary exam and a meeting with the Chief Minister to address their concerns.
