Politics overshadows BPSC students’ stir – Times of India
Patna: Over two weeks into their agitation, students protesting against the alleged paper leak in the 70th Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) are now grappling with an uncertain future. What began as a united student-led movement has turned into a political battleground with various parties allegedly “hijacking” the cause for their own agendas.
The protest, which started on Dec 18, initially focused on the students’ demand for the cancellation of the examination. However, as political functionaries and organisations joined the fray, the focus of the agitation appears to have shifted. “Initially, teachers of some coaching centres joined in support, but now netas like Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Pappu Yadav, Prashant Kishor and CPI-ML representatives have entered the scene. This has fragmented our movement,” said Gautam Kumar, a BPSC aspirant. He added, “Agar ek manch par rahte to hamari baat suni jati (If we all stayed on one platform, our voices would have been heard). Right now, our agitation has become completely political.”
Amit Kumar, another student involved in the protest, expressed his disillusionment with the current state of the movement. “The involvement of political leaders has painted us as an unruly force, even though most of the aggressive actions during the marches and clashes with the police came from party workers,” he said. Amit lamented that instead of amplifying the students’ cause, the political participation has diverted attention away from the core issues.
Of late, the presence of students at protest sites has dwindled significantly with many demonstrations being dominated by political cadres rather than the affected aspirants. For instance, events such as Independent MP Pappu Yadav’s daylong protest, Prashant Kishor’s indefinite hunger strike near Gandhi Maidan and CPI-ML legislator Shiv Prakash Ranjan’s Mukhya Mantri Gherao march have seen minimal student participation. At Gardanibagh, where students initially staged a sit-in, the numbers have sharply declined.
Despite the declining student presence, political figures have continued their campaigns. Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor, currently on an indefinite fast, reiterated his commitment to the students’ demands. “What crime have I committed by sitting before Gandhi Ji’s statue in protest?” Kishor asked on Friday. “There are so many people in Gandhi Maidan. Did they all take permission from the government before entering?” he questioned.
As the protests lose momentum, the students’ initial demands risk being overshadowed by the growing political undertones, leaving their future as uncertain as ever.
The protest, which started on Dec 18, initially focused on the students’ demand for the cancellation of the examination. However, as political functionaries and organisations joined the fray, the focus of the agitation appears to have shifted. “Initially, teachers of some coaching centres joined in support, but now netas like Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Pappu Yadav, Prashant Kishor and CPI-ML representatives have entered the scene. This has fragmented our movement,” said Gautam Kumar, a BPSC aspirant. He added, “Agar ek manch par rahte to hamari baat suni jati (If we all stayed on one platform, our voices would have been heard). Right now, our agitation has become completely political.”
Amit Kumar, another student involved in the protest, expressed his disillusionment with the current state of the movement. “The involvement of political leaders has painted us as an unruly force, even though most of the aggressive actions during the marches and clashes with the police came from party workers,” he said. Amit lamented that instead of amplifying the students’ cause, the political participation has diverted attention away from the core issues.
Of late, the presence of students at protest sites has dwindled significantly with many demonstrations being dominated by political cadres rather than the affected aspirants. For instance, events such as Independent MP Pappu Yadav’s daylong protest, Prashant Kishor’s indefinite hunger strike near Gandhi Maidan and CPI-ML legislator Shiv Prakash Ranjan’s Mukhya Mantri Gherao march have seen minimal student participation. At Gardanibagh, where students initially staged a sit-in, the numbers have sharply declined.
Despite the declining student presence, political figures have continued their campaigns. Jan Suraaj leader Prashant Kishor, currently on an indefinite fast, reiterated his commitment to the students’ demands. “What crime have I committed by sitting before Gandhi Ji’s statue in protest?” Kishor asked on Friday. “There are so many people in Gandhi Maidan. Did they all take permission from the government before entering?” he questioned.
As the protests lose momentum, the students’ initial demands risk being overshadowed by the growing political undertones, leaving their future as uncertain as ever.
