Priyanka Gandhi Critiques BJP's Double-Engine Governance Amid Student Protests in Bihar
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday condemned the BJP-led double-engine government in Bihar for allegedly 'torturing' students protesting against the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) in Patna.
On Sunday, the protests escalated when the Patna Police employed lathi charges and water cannons to break up thousands of candidates demonstrating against the suspected irregularities in the 70th BPSC Combined Preliminary Examination, which was held on December 13.
Taking to X, Priyanka Gandhi stated, 'Students were tortured for the second time in three days in Bihar. It is the government's responsibility to stop corruption, rigging, and paper leaks in examinations. However, instead of addressing corruption, students are being silenced.'
'The use of water cannons and lathi charges on youth during this bitter cold is inhumane. BJP's double engine has become a symbol of double atrocities on the youth,' she further added.
The protestors, who are calling for the cancellation of the examination due to allegations of widespread irregularities, staged a sit-in near Gandhi Maidan, refusing to clear the road despite police attempts to intervene.
As tensions rose, police initially deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd. When that failed, a lathi charge was executed, resulting in injuries to numerous demonstrators.
Students reported that tear gas and excessive force were utilized against them, with claims of being forcibly removed from the streets. Female candidates also mentioned instances of being mishandled during the confrontation.
In response to these protests, the Bihar Public Service Commission declared a re-examination of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination (CCE) for about 12,000 candidates. The re-exam is set for January 4, 2024, specifically for those who attended the Bapu Campus Exam Centre in Patna on December 13.
This situation has sparked widespread condemnation, with students and opposition leaders denouncing the police's actions and calling for accountability from the government.
