NEW DELHI: NDA ally Chirag Paswan on Monday has strongly criticised the use of lathicharge and water cannons on students protesting in Patna over alleged irregularities in the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examinations. Calling for immediate intervention, Paswan said that he spoke to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and that the government has started a dialogue with the protestors.
“I have appealed to the Bihar government and the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar ji for immediate intervention, as a result of which the Chief Secretary on behalf of the government has started the process of dialogue with the candidates and students,” Paswan said in his post on X.
“I have never been a supporter of the lathicharge and use of water cannon on students in Patna yesterday. The police should exercise restraint. If students have come out on the streets with their demands, efforts should be made to solve their problems by explaining them in a peaceful manner, and not to use lathicharge and water cannon,” the post further added.
He also said that the government must act swiftly to restore trust among students, while also urging protestors to avoid being influenced by political agendas. “This issue is about the future of Bihar’s youth and should rise above politics,” he said. Paswan also called for legal action against police officers responsible for any excessive force during the protests.
The demonstrations erupted after students demanded the cancellation of the 70th BPSC Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) Preliminary exam held on 13 December. Allegations of a leaked question paper and uneven treatment have fuelled tensions, with students arguing that the re-examination for only some candidates undermines the principle of fairness. Nearly five lakh candidates took the exam at over 900 centres, but more than 10,000 were asked to retake it following controversies at specific centres.
On Sunday, Patna police used water cannons and reportedly lathicharged students protesting in Gandhi Maidan, sparking widespread condemnation. Videos circulating on social media appeared to contradict official statements denying the use of force. SP City Sweety Sahrawat claimed police acted only after students refused to disperse. “We requested them to leave, but they pushed back, forcing us to use water cannons,” she said.
Meanwhile, Jan Suraaj Party chief Prashant Kishore accused the state administration of turning democracy into “lathi-tantra” and alleged rampant corruption in the BPSC. He claimed, “Thousands of crores have exchanged hands for posts to be filled through this exam.” Kishore also criticised Nitish Kumar for remaining silent on the issue, accusing him of neglecting students’ concerns.