Patna: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday condemned the police lathi-charge on candidates seeking cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) preliminary examination in Patna.
The incident occurred when the candidates, joined by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor at Gandhi Maidan, attempted to march to the chief minister’s residence. Police responded with water cannons and lathi-charge to disperse the protesters who were demanding the cancellation of the preliminary test of the BPSC’s 70th combined exam held on Dec 13.
Priyanka criticised the “double-engine” govt in Bihar, saying it had become a symbol of atrocities against youth. She added that the govt’s responsibility was to prevent corruption and exam paper leaks rather than suppressing students’ voices. “It is inhuman to spray water and lathi charge on youth in this harsh cold,” she posted on X.
Kharge termed the incident an attempt to break students’ morale through force. He accused the NDA govt of using brutal force to hide alleged paper leaks and rigging, calling it “extremely shameful and condemnable”. Kharge also claimed that the BJP had spread a network of paper leak mafia across the country, jeopardising youth’s future.
Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal described the incident as an attack on democracy, criticising BJP govts for using force to suppress dissent. “Students are the future of the country. Listen to their voice instead of suppressing it,” he posted on X, adding that the country would never forgive such injustice to youth.
The opposition leaders unanimously condemned the use of force against peaceful student protesters and called for addressing their concerns regarding exam irregularities. They stressed the need for transparency in the examination process and proper investigation of alleged malpractices instead of using force to silence protesters.