Prashant Kishor Arrested Amid Hunger Strike Over Bihar BPSC Exam Cancellation
Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor was arrested on Monday while observing a hunger strike at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, demanding the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam. Kishor and his supporters had been protesting against alleged irregularities in the examination process, which has triggered widespread debate over the integrity of competitive exams in Bihar.
Kishor’s hunger strike, which began on January 2, was a direct response to allegations of a question paper leak in the integrated 70th combined (preliminary) competitive test conducted by the BPSC on December 13. The controversy deepened public concern over systemic issues in Bihar’s examination system, including accountability and transparency.
The Jan Suraaj Party leader accused the government of failing to ensure fair practices, claiming that the future of thousands of aspirants had been compromised. Speaking to reporters before his arrest, Kishor said, “This is not just about one exam; it’s about the integrity of the entire system. If such malpractice continues, how can we expect to inspire trust in our institutions?”
On Monday, Kishor was “forcibly removed” from Gandhi Maidan by the Patna Police and transported to AIIMS in an ambulance, according to officials. His removal was met with fierce opposition from his supporters, who chanted slogans such as “Vande Mataram” and accused the government of suppressing peaceful protests. Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh confirmed the arrest, stating, “Kishor and his supporters were detained for violating the High Court directive, which restricts demonstrations to the designated protest site in Gardani Bagh.”
The police action came after an FIR was filed against Kishor and 150 of his supporters by the district administration, which declared the protest at Gandhi Maidan illegal. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar criticized Kishor, alleging that his protest was “politically motivated” and questioning the sincerity of his efforts. “Students are seeing through this stunt. Kishor was well-prepared with blankets and a vanity van. The administration acted as per the law,” Kumar said.
The BPSC, in response to the allegations, had conducted a retest on January 4 for a select group of candidates affected by the paper leak. Held at 22 centers in Patna, the retest saw participation from 5,943 out of 12,012 eligible candidates. Officials claimed the retest was conducted peacefully without reports of malpractice. However, Kishor called the retest a “half-hearted” measure, stating that it failed to address the core issue of accountability.
Kishor revealed plans to intensify his efforts by filing a petition in the Patna High Court on January 7, demanding the annulment of the entire examination. “This is not just about retests; it’s about ensuring justice for all aspirants and putting an end to corruption in our recruitment processes,” he said.
The incident has drawn attention to Kishor’s growing role as a challenger to Bihar’s ruling establishment. His hunger strike has resonated with many young aspirants frustrated with the perceived lack of fairness in public examinations. Analysts view this as part of Kishor’s broader effort to position himself as a reformist leader focused on education and governance.
Meanwhile, police presence was heightened around Gandhi Maidan following Kishor’s arrest, with security forces checking vehicles to prevent further disruptions. Supporters of the Jan Suraaj Party accused the administration of heavy-handed tactics, while opposition parties criticized the Nitish Kumar-led government for stifling dissent.
This latest controversy has added to the scrutiny of BPSC’s functioning, with students, activists, and political leaders demanding greater transparency and stricter safeguards against malpractice. Whether Kishor’s legal challenge will succeed or not, the episode underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms in Bihar’s public service recruitment processes.
