The Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) has dismissed calls to cancel the 70th Integrated Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 held on December 13, despite mounting pressure and allegations of a question paper leak.
Speaking to mediapersons on Friday, BPSC Examination Controller Rajesh Kumar Singh asserted, "There is no question of cancelling the entire BPSC exam held on December 13. The BPSC decided to cancel the preliminary examination held at Bapu Pariksha Parisar centre only due to disruption created by a group of unruly aspirants as part of the conspiracy to disrupt the exam. The re-examination will be held on January 4 at another centre in the city."
Singh further claimed, "We have information that a group of private coaching institutes are instigating aspirants and mobilising students to raise the demand for the cancellation of the entire exam. Their demand is baseless."
The BPSC's firm stance comes despite ongoing protests that have garnered support from political figures.
The demonstrators have been staging protests at Gardani Bagh for over a week, demanding the cancellation of the entire examination.
They argue that a re-examination at only one centre is unfair and violates the principle of a "level playing field."
Political figures, including RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, and Independent MP Pappu Yadav, have expressed solidarity with the protesters.
Yadav also wrote to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urging the cancellation of the exam. Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor visited the protest site and gave the government an ultimatum to resolve the issue within three days, or he would lead the protests himself.
However, the protesters have remained unimpressed by the political backing. YouTube influencer Motiur Rahman Khan, known as Guru Rahman, declared that Kishor would not be allowed to participate in the protests.
Both Kishor and another social media personality, Khan Sir, were chased away by the protesters when they visited the site, with Khan Sir remarking, "I am willing to sell one of my kidneys for the sake of your cause."
Video footage showed both men leaving the scene amid angry chants from the protesters.
"We will not allow anybody, including Khan Sir or Guru Rahman, to use our stir for their own gains," one of the protesters said.
A group of aspirants is demanding the cancellation of the entire BPSC exam held on December 13 across the state, stating that a re-examination for just one centre would be unfair.
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