Patna (TIP)- The Bihar Police have filed a case against poll strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor and others for allegedly instigating the students’ protest being held by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) aspirants in Patna’s Gandhi Maidan.
According to the police, Kishor and other members of his party provoked the candidates, prompting them to take to the streets and create disturbances in different parts of the city.
A case was also filed against the Jan Suraaj Party Bihar chief for holding the protest near Gandhi Maidan, despite the district administration rejecting their request.
Thousands of aspirants continued their protest at Gandhi Maidan on Sunday, seeking re-examination of the 70th BPSC preliminary examination and a meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The protest began on December 13 and, since then, has won the backing of several key politicians, educationists and activists.
The Bihar Police, in a statement, said that Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party on Saturday had informed the district administration of their intention to hold a Chattra Sansad (student parliament) at Gandhi Maidan. The district administration, however, rejected the request and informed the party about its decision.
“Despite this, on Sunday, the party gathered an unauthorised crowd near the Gandhi statue, inciting the protest and creating a law and order situation,” the police said.
The case was filled against more than 19 people, including Manoj Bharti, the president of the Jan Suraaj Party, Rahmanshu Mishra, a coaching institute operators – Nikhil Mani Tiwari, Subhash Kumar Thakur, Shubham Snehlil; Prashant Kishor, along with two bouncers accompanying him – Anand Mishra and Rakesh Kumar Mishra; and others.
Additionally, over 600 unidentified people were also listed as accused. The District Magistrate of Patna confirmed the development, saying that an investigation into the matter is underway.
Earlier on December 29, Kishor expressed his support for the protesting candidates, calling for an end to the corruption in Bihar’s examination. He slammed Nitish Kumar for “going to Delhi on a private visit but having no time for the youth of his own state”, news agency PTI reported.
Speaking to the protesting candidates in Patna, Kishor said, “The Chief Minister does not have time to listen to the grievances of the protesting aspirants and has gone to Delhi. The protest will continue till their demand for the cancellation of the exam is not accepted. I am always with the protesting students.”
He went on to say that before joining the protest, he held extensive talks with education sector officials. “No exam in Bihar has happened without corruption or paper leaks. We must unite to ensure this ends,” Kishor said.