As the students movement intensifies, Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal on Wednesday assured students that the 70th Combined Competitive Exams (preliminary) conducted by the BPSC on December 13, 2024, can be cancelled if any irregularity is found.
Talking to the media here, he said the Bihar government has not said ‘no’ yet. An inquiry is on and if any irregularity is found, the exam can be cancelled.
The minister’s statement has come at a time when a common perception was gaining ground that the state government and BPSC would not cancel the prelims at any cost.
The students’ protest started on a small scale with BPSC aspirants demanding a re-examination for the 70th Combined Competitive Exams (preliminary). The students’ protest gained significant attention as it gained support from various opposition parties.
Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor is on a hunger strike. Independent MP Pappu Yadav has called for Bihar Bandh on January 12 to put pressure on the state government. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has also targeted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not taking proper action in this case.
Amid growing political pressure, the minister also appealed to the BPSC aspirants to have confidence in the state government and the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).
However, he also criticized opposition leaders for using the students’ protest for political mileage.
Meanwhile, Patna Police issued a clarification regarding the arrest of the Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor. It said Kishor was not taken to Beur jail, instead he was taken to the Beur Police Station as the court premises got overcrowded. Later, he was released upon furnishing a personal bail bond to the tune of Rs 25,000.