On January 5, the head of Jan Suraaj Prashant Kishor was arrested by Bihar police. He was on an indefinite hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
Kishor was protesting for students who wanted the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) 70th Combined Competitive Exam cancelled because of a paper leak. Even after his arrest and being taken to AIIMS for medical checks, Kishor refused treatment and kept his hunger strike going.
Protests over alleged BPSC exam paper leak
The protests started after claims of a paper leak during the BPSC exam on December 13, 2024. Students said the exam was unfair and called for it to be cancelled. Fairness has long been a problem in education, while industries like Bhaggo Casino now thrive with advanced systems to guarantee fair results.
The issue grew when the Bihar government announced a re-exam for 12,000 students. Kishor says this shows the original exam had problems. Both Kishor and the students want the exam system fixed and the people who caused the issues fired.
Clash between police and Jan Suraaj supporters
On January 5, things got tense when police took Kishor away. This led to a fight between the police and his supporters. The police tried to move Kishor from the protest site, but his supporters fought back. Even after the police stepped in, the protests went on. The unrest among students and the public grew.
Reports say thousands gathered at Gandhi Maidan, showing that young people are upset about what they see as unfairness. The protests show growing anger about jobs and education in Bihar. As of January 6, the situation is still tense, and there may be more protests.
Kishor taken to AIIMS, isolated from supporters
After his arrest, Kishor was taken to AIIMS in Patna for checks but refused treatment. He was also separated from his supporters, which is normal in such cases. Still, Kishor stays strong in his hunger strike. He continues to support the students and protest the problems with the BPSC exam.
Prashant Kishor’s condition is still serious, being on hunger strike since January 2. Meanwhile, the public’s response to Kishor’s strike is mixed. Many students and young activists support him. However, others criticise using hunger strikes for politics, questioning whether it will bring change.
Supporters continue to protest despite police action
The protests continue despite heavy police action, baton charges, and water cannons. Many supporters, who have protested for weeks, still gather at Gandhi Maidan and nearby areas. The protests are now a symbol of resistance against Bihar’s failing education system.
Supporters have used social media to organise and spread their message. They share updates, videos, and calls for action. Local communities have supported the protesters by giving food, water, and supplies. The Bihar government has not yet made a full plan to address the demands, causing more anger from the public.
Kishor calls on political leaders to join the protest
Kishor has asked well-known politicians to join the protest. Among them are Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav. Kishor believes their support could bring more attention to the issue and get more people involved. He hopes that political support will help end the crisis and get justice for the students.
Kishor’s request for political help shows the need for both the public and leaders to unite. This will help address the concerns of students who are upset with the BPSC exam process. The improved exam systems can benefit from cutting-edge tech used by other industries to enforce fairness.