The "double-engine" Bharatiya Janata Party government in Bihar has become a symbol of atrocities on youth, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Monday, a day after some students protesting against the cancellation of the Bihar Public Service Commission exam were lathi-charged.
"It is the government's job to stop corruption, rigging and paper leaks in examinations. But instead of stopping corruption, students are being prevented from raising their voices," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
"It is inhuman to spray water and lathi charge on youth in this harsh cold. BJP's double-engine has become a symbol of double atrocities on youth," the Congress general secretary said.
Police on Sunday used water cannons to disperse the students demanding the cancellation of the BPSC exam held here on December 13.
The students, who were joined by Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor at Gandhi Maidan, attempted to march to the chief minister's residence in the evening, prompting police to take action, authorities said.
Kishor also claimed today that "thousands of crores of rupees have changed hands" for posts to be filled up by the Bihar PSC exam, cancellation of which is being demanded by many candidates.
The former close aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also expressed dismay over refusal of his ex-mentor to "utter a single word" on the stir which has been going on for nearly two weeks.
"The candidates are protesting in biting cold, braving baton charge by police and water cannons. The CM is away in Delhi, and having a good time. He did not utter a single word when reporters in the national capital approached him with queries on the stir," Kishor told the media.
Notably, nearly five lakh candidates had appeared at more than 900 centres across the state for the Combined Competitive Exams.
At one of the exam centres in Patna, hundreds of candidates boycotted the test alleging that question papers were "leaked".
This was refuted by the Bihar Public Service Commission, which saw a "conspiracy" to get the exams cancelled at work, even though re-examination had been ordered for more than 10,000 candidates who had been assigned the Bapu Pariksha Parisar, which was at the centre of the controversy.
The protesters' contention is that re-examination for a small section of candidates would militate against the principle of a level-playing field and, hence, the entire exam should be cancelled and held afresh.
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