• Source:JND
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BPSC 70th Exam 2024: The controversy surrounding the alleged Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) question paper leak escalated as protesting students on Saturday refused the Patna district administration's proposal for discussions with commission authorities, demanding a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar instead.

In a firm response, Patna District Magistrate (DM) Chandrasekhar Singh also said he would not allow the 'Chatra Sansad' (students' congregation), called by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday and warned of action against coaching institute owners who were found to be involved, in any manner, in the protests henceforth.

Kishor on Saturday went to Gardani Bagh where BPSC aspirants have been staging a dharna for the last several days. Addressing the protesters, Kishor said, "Before coming here, I had a long discussion with people from the education field. I must say that irregularities and paper leaks have now become the norm as far as BPSC exams are concerned. It can't go on like this... We have to find a solution. That's why we have decided to organise 'Chatra Sansad' near Mahatma Gandhi's statue at Gandhi Maidan in Patna tomorrow to find a solution to this issue."

"The district administration will not allow students to congregate near the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan... it's a restricted area. Other events are also going on there. Adequate security personnel have been deployed in and around Gandhi Maidan. Strict action will be taken against those who try to take law into their hands tomorrow," Patna DM Singh said, as reported by the news agency PTI.

Regarding the district administration's offer to protesting students, the DM said, "The protesting aspirants have so far not made their stand clear. Earlier in the day, we gave them an offer for facilitating their meeting with the BPSC authorities so that they could put forth their grievances. They want to meet the CM in this regard... that can't happen as BPSC is an independent body and the government has no role to play in this."

Candidates have been protesting for over a week, demanding the cancellation of the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive (Preliminary) Examination (CCE), 2024, conducted by the BPSC, following allegations of a question paper leak.

The protesters, who have been staging a dharna at Gardani Bagh for several days, argue that the exam should be canceled entirely, as holding a re-examination for just one center would undermine the principle of a "level playing field."

Moreover, the District Magistrate stated that the administration is closely monitoring the actions of coaching institute owners and their students.

"We are keeping a close watch on their activities. If they are found indulging in activities of instigating protesting aspirants, strict action will be initiated against them," he said.

The CPI (M-L) Liberation, an alliance partner of INDIA bloc, has also decided to support the 'Chakka Jam' (road blockade) call given by certain students' wings in Bihar on December 30.

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Patna Police on Saturday questioned YouTube influencer Motiur Rahman Khan, known as Guru Rahman, on the charges of instigating the protesting aspirants and delivering provocative speeches while addressing students at Gardani Bagh.

After his questioning, Rahman told reporters, "I categorically told officials that I am not saying that paper was leaked, I simply told them that I am against the use of the 'normalisation of marks' process, which adjusts scores for exams held in multiple shifts to ensure fairness. I have been asked by the police not to participate in any dharna or protests of the BPSC aspirants. I have been called for another round of questioning on January 3."

Meanwhile, the BPSC, in a statement issued on Saturday, said, "The decision to cancel exam of any centre is taken by the commission on the basis of a report submitted by the concerned district administration. The examination was held in 912 centres across the state, and of those, free and fair exams were held in 911 centres. The commission cancelled its CCE's preliminary examination held at Bapu Pariksha Parisar in Patna's Kumhrar locality, due to ruckus created by unruly candidates on December 13."

(With PTI Inputs) 

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