Prashant Kishor Detained During Hunger Strike Over BPSC Exam Controversy

Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor was detained on Monday during his hunger strike at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, where he was protesting against alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination. The hunger strike began on January 2, with Kishor demanding the cancellation of the December 13 BPSC exam following allegations of a question paper leak.

Police removed Kishor and his supporters from the protest site in the early hours and transported him to Patna AIIMS for a medical checkup. Speaking to PTI, Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh confirmed the arrest, stating that Kishor and others had been sitting on an “illegal dharna” at a restricted site near the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

The Patna Police had earlier registered a case against Kishor for holding the protest at Gandhi Maidan. “They will now be produced before a court,” the District Magistrate added.

The controversy stems from the December 13 BPSC exam, which was marred by allegations of a leaked question paper. In response, the commission ordered a retest for select candidates, which took place on January 4 at 22 centers in Patna. Of the 12,012 eligible candidates, 5,943 appeared for the retest, which reportedly concluded without any misconduct or malpractices.

Despite the BPSC’s assurance that the retest was conducted fairly, Kishor and his supporters have continued to push for the exam’s cancellation, citing the need for greater accountability in the recruitment process.

Kishor’s hunger strike and subsequent detention have drawn attention to the ongoing grievances of civil service aspirants in Bihar, reigniting the debate on transparency and fairness in competitive examinations.

Source: telegraph India

Photo Credit: telegraph India