Ara: Thousands of workers of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation and its students and youth wings took out a protest march in the Bhojpur district headquarters, and blocked roads and railway tracks on Monday.
The CPI(ML) Liberation, All India Students Association (Aisa) and Revolutionary Youth Association (RYA) members, led by Agiyaon MLA Shiv Prakash Ranjan, took out the march from near HPD Jain College, Ara, and reached the railway station, marching through the main thoroughfares of the city. At the Ara railway station, the protesters stopped a Buxar-bound passenger train (03376) from 9.30am to 10am.
Aisa’s Bhojpur district secretary Vikash Kumar said they also blocked Ara-Patna road for about two hours near Sadar Patel bus stand on the city bypass and at Kayamnagar near Koilwar. They also blocked Sahar-Arwal road. “We will keep agitating unless the Bihar govt announces cancellation of the BPSC 70th preliminary exam and a new date for re-exam,” said Vikash.
Ranjan, who is also the RYA state secretary, told reporters at the Ara railway station that the use of water cannons, along with lathicharge, on the agitating BPSC aspirants in this cold weather reminds one of the repression and suppression of protesters during the British rule in India. “This so-called double engine govt is not able to conduct an exam fairly and properly. If the state govt doesn’t announce re-exam, we will oppose the Pragati Yatra of Nitish Kumar and give a call for Bihar bandh.”
Aisa district president Sushil Yadav, RYA’s Niranjan Keshari and others also demanded a compensation of Rs 5 crore for the bereaved family of one Sonu Kumar of Patna who died allegedly by suicide due to exam pressure. They also demanded dismantling of the paper leak and exam mafia network in the state.