Prashant Kishore's Hunger Strike Sparks Outcry Over BPSC Exam Paper Leak

Jan Suraj's Prashant Kishore has launched a hunger strike in Bihar to protest the alleged BPSC exam paper leak. Amid rising tensions, opposition leaders march against the government, and the state's handling faces criticism. Calls for canceling the exams intensify as demonstrations continue.

Prashant Kishore, the chief of Jan Suraj, has embarked on an indefinite hunger strike in Bihar, demanding the cancellation of the state's Civil Services examination due to an alleged paper leak. The hunger strike was initiated following his participation in a protest at Gandhi Maidan alongside aspirants of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).

Kishore criticized Bihar's Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not engaging with the protesting students, stating that this reflects the egoism within the government. The students have agreed to cease their protests if the Chief Minister acknowledges the cancellation's necessity, yet they were met with violence from authorities, according to Kishore.

The situation escalated when leaders from the Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) attempted to meet the Governor concerning the exam issue but were halted by police. In response to previous protests, the Bihar Police registered FIRs against participants, including Kishore, and authorities carried out a lathi charge against demonstrators.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has publicly denounced the police's actions, expressing his solidarity with the students. Meanwhile, Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar announced that the BPSC would investigate the students' complaints regarding the December examination, promising a fair review process.

(With inputs from agencies.)