Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, alleging "state-sponsored" irregularities in the 70th Integrated Combined Competitive Examination (CCE) 2024 conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC).
The RJD leader accused the government of failing to ensure fairness in competitive examinations.
In a video statement released on Friday, Yadav criticised Kumar for his "silence" and accused him of neglecting job aspirants protesting against the alleged question paper leaks.
"This government has failed in conducting any examination in the state without paper leaks...whether it is for class 10th, 12th, police constable recruitment exams or BPSC tests, question papers are leaked before the examinations start. This government is least bothered about the welfare of students and youths," Yadav said.
The RJD leader alleged that the Chief Minister and his deputies avoided addressing the issue, highlighting incidents of police action against protestors.
"Why did the CM and two deputy CMs maintain silence over the issue? Those (aspirants) who protested against irregularities in the exam were baton-charged, slapped by an official of Patna and also sent to jail. It seems that bureaucrats are running the government in the state…This is not the government of the people," he claimed.
He further charged, "The CM’s reluctance to communicate with students who were baton-charged by the police and slapped by an official of the Patna district shows that the JD(U) supremo is a tired man and unable to govern Bihar."
BPSC denies leak, warns of action
Rumours of a paper leak emerged on social media, sparking protests at the Bapu examination centre in Kumhrar, Patna.
Approximately 300-400 aspirants boycotted the test, alleging that the question paper was available online before the examination began.
BPSC Chairman Parmar Ravi Manubhai refuted the allegations, stating, "The test was held in a free and fair manner in more than 900 centres, where close to five lakh candidates appeared. However, in one centre in Patna, some candidates snatched question papers from the invigilators and stormed out of the examination hall screaming that the paper had been leaked."
Manubhai added, "Snatching question papers from invigilators and showing those to outsiders is tantamount to looting public property. Police action will be initiated against those who seem to have acted as a part of a conspiracy...we are examining CCTV footage to identify them."
Commotion at Patna centre
The Bapu examination centre witnessed chaos on Friday as aspirants protested delays in distributing question papers. One official reportedly slapped an aspirant, while Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh was seen slapping a bystander in a widely broadcast incident.
Singh clarified, "It was never my intention to slap or hurt any aspirant. There was a slight delay in the distribution of question booklets in one or two examination halls."
An additional examination superintendent, identified as Ram Iqbal Singh, tragically died of a cardiac arrest, while a female candidate fell unconscious during the commotion.
Yadav condemned the handling of the situation, saying, "Why were question papers distributed almost an hour after the scheduled time? This is sheer injustice with the students."
Tejashwi Yadav pledged sweeping reforms should the RJD return to power in 2025.
"If we come to power after the 2025 assembly polls in the state, we will take care of students and youths. We will make arrangements for their travel and stay during competitive exams," he asserted, adding that the "youths of Bihar will show a mirror to NDA leaders" in the upcoming elections.
The RJD leader also criticised the state government’s expenditure on the ‘Mahila-Samvad’ yatra, alleging, "Rs 114 crore will be spent on snacks and other things during the CM’s yatra from the government treasury…this is organised just to improve the image of the state government and the CM."
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