Why Did the Lathicharge on Teacher Recruitment Examination Candidates Ignite Outrage in Bihar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Lathicharge on candidates highlights government response to protests.
- Political leaders criticize the NDA government’s anti-student stance.
- Calls for public unity against perceived governmental incompetence.
- Persistent demands for transparency in recruitment processes.
- Incidents like this raise awareness of student rights in Bihar.
Patna, May 6 (NationPress) The lathicharge executed by Patna Police on candidates protesting for the BPSC Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE-3) outside the Chief Minister's residence has incited significant political backlash throughout Bihar. Opposition leaders have criticized the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government for being allegedly anti-student.
Mukesh Sahani, the leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), expressed his condemnation of the government's actions, claiming, "The Nitish Kumar administration has made harassment and atrocities against students a routine practice."
“The youth were asserting their demands peacefully in a democratic fashion, yet the government chose to respond with violence through the Patna Police. Such actions are unacceptable in any democracy,” Sahani asserted.
He went on to accuse the government of providing cover for criminals and corrupt officials while stifling the voices of students and job seekers.
“This administration shields criminals yet perceives students and job seekers as adversaries when they assert their rights. They owe their position to these young individuals, yet they resort to lathi-tantra (rule of the stick) to mask their failures,” he added.
Earlier, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also denounced the incident, sharing a video of the police action on the social media platform X.
In his post, he fiercely criticized the NDA government, stating, “The Nitish-BJP government's primary pastime is to brutally assault and intimidate the youth for asserting their democratic demands. This inept regime protects criminals and corrupt entities but does not hesitate to use force against students and job seekers.”
He further urged the citizens of Bihar to unite and challenge the “inept NDA government,” which has remained in power for two decades.
The police initiated a lathicharge on Tuesday after TRE-3 candidates attempted to cross into a restricted area near the CM's residence, demanding the release of the supplementary results of the recruitment examination.
A female protester collapsed during the altercation, heightening the public's outrage.
Despite persistent protests over the last four months and verbal commitments from the Education Minister, candidates assert that no tangible actions have been taken, forcing them to amplify their protests.