Priyanka Gandhi Slams Bihar Government For ‘Torturing’ Student Protesters Over BPSC Exam Irregularities

On Monday, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the BJP-led government in Bihar, accusing it of ‘torturing’ students protesting alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examinations in Patna.

On Sunday, chaos erupted as Patna Police resorted to lathi charges and water cannons to disperse thousands of candidates demonstrating against the 70th BPSC Preliminary Examination held on 13 December.

Taking to X, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra posted, “Students were tortured for the second time in three days in Bihar. It is the government’s job to stop corruption, rigging, and paper leaks in examinations. Instead of stopping corruption, authorities are silencing students from raising their voices.”

“Water cannon and lathi charge on youth in this harsh cold is inhuman. BJP’s double engine has become a symbol of double atrocities on the youth,” she asserted.

Protesters demanded the cancellation of the exam, citing widespread irregularities, and staged a sit-in near Gandhi Maidan, refusing to disperse despite police warnings.

The situation escalated when the police used water cannons, followed by lathi charges, leading to injuries among the demonstrators.

Protesters accused authorities of using excessive force, including tear gas, and dragging them off the streets. Female candidates accused authorities of mishandling them during the confrontation.

In response to the protests, the Bihar Public Service Commission announced a re-examination of the 70th Preliminary Examination for around 12,000 candidates.

The re-test, set for 4 January 2024, will cover candidates from the Bapu Campus Exam Centre, where the alleged irregularities occurred.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with opposition leaders and students demanding accountability from the government for the police’s actions and the alleged examination malpractice.

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