Prashant Kishor booked as students, police clash in Bihar over exam
A police case has been filed against election strategist-turned political leader Prashant Kishor, leaders of his Jan Suraaj party, a few coaching centre owners and 700 unknown protesters over the student protests in Bihar held on Sunday.
They have been accused of “unauthorisedly” gathering people, instigating them and creating a law and order problem while marching to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s house.
The students held a massive protest at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, demanding a re-exam to be held for the 70th BPSC prelims after alleged irregularities came to the fore. During the march towards CM House, the students broke the barricading at JP Golambar near Gandhi Maidan. The police, however, resorted to mild-lathi charge and water cannons to disperse the protestors.
While the security has been beefed up to deal with any anarchic situation, the students have been resolute to encircle the CM house. This led to minor scuffles between students and police. The aspirants have been staging protests in Gardanibagh for several days, expressing their grievances on the matter.
While the security was beefed up to deal with the anarchic situation, the students were resolute to encircle the CM house. This led to minor scuffles between students and police.
BPSC aspirants said that they don’t want politics and only demand re-exam. “We don’t want to be the victim of their (political leaders) politics…We have only one demand, we want re-examination…An attempt is being made to divert the issue…We don’t want politics in this issue, we only want re-exam…” .
The police said that they are ready to listen to the students. SP City Sweety Sahrawat said , “We requested the students protesting to vacate the place but they didn’t listen to us…We also said that they can put forward their demands, we are ready to listen to them…They also pushed us after which we used water cannon on them…”
The Patna administration said that the Jan Suraaj Party was denied permission to organise Chhatra Sansad in front of the Gandhi statue. “However, a crowd gathered at the Gandhi statue and created a law and order problem. A scuffle broke out between the crowd and Police. The crowd broke the loudspeakers installed by the administration. Despite repeated requests, these people violated the guidelines of the administration and disrupted public order. Therefore, the administration removed them by using water cannons and force. An FIR has been registered in Gandhi Maidan police station against 600-700 people including Jan Suraaj Chief Prashant Kishor on charges of unauthorized gathering of crowd, instigating people and creating law and order problems,”.
Kishor seeks justice
Kishor urged protestors to halt the agitation for now and said that if the protestors are not satisfied with the government’s response, Monday morning a decision will be made on the further protest.
“The government officials present here have assured us that the government has agreed to discuss the demands of the students and the five-member students’ committee will go and talk to the Chief Secretary right now so that some decision can be taken on the problems and demands of the students… If after talking to the Secretary, the students or the student organization of BPSC candidates are not satisfied, then tomorrow morning a decision will be made on the further protest…I would request the students not to do anything right now that is not legal… If the decision is not in favour of the students, if any injustice is done to the students, then we will stand with them with full strength…I am with the students…” he said.
