Prashant Kishor faces backlash after "You take blankets from us and then show us attitude" remark during BPSC protest

On Sunday evening, a significant confrontation took place in Patna involving political strategist Prashant Kishor and aspirants of the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), who had been protesting for a re-examination of the 70th BPSC Preliminary Exam. The protest began earlier in December, with candidates alleging irregularities in the exam process, particularly after the BPSC decided to cancel the exam at one center due to an alleged paper leak. On Sunday, tensions escalated when the Patna Police used water cannons and lathi-charges to disperse the demonstrators, causing injuries and prompting outrage among the protesters.

Kishor, who had shown solidarity with the students' cause, arrived at the protest site in Gardanibagh after the police action, where he was met with strong criticism. The aspirants accused him of abandoning them during the police crackdown. When Kishor appeared, the protesters raised slogans of “Prashant Kishor, go back.” In response, he made a comment that further angered the crowd, saying, “You take blankets from us and then show us attitude.” His statement was perceived as dismissive by the protesters, who were already agitated by the police action.

Following the altercation, an FIR was filed against Kishor and 20 other individuals, including his Jan Suraj Party president Manoj Bharti and city-based tutor Ramanshu Mishra. The FIR was registered by the Patna Police for organizing the protest at Gandhi Maidan, despite the administration's previous denial of permission. The authorities had warned that any demonstration in the area would be considered unauthorized, and the police named Kishor and his associates in the FIR, along with 600-700 unnamed individuals who participated in the protest.

In a press statement on Monday, Kishor responded to the allegations, providing a detailed account of the events. He clarified that he had advised the students to disperse before the lathi-charge took place, which occurred around 45 minutes after his departure. Kishor condemned the police’s actions, stating that they were "unjust," and announced plans to file an FIR against the Patna Police. He also expressed intentions to approach the Human Rights Commission and take legal action. Kishor emphasized that the students were leading the movement, as per the decisions made during the ‘Chhatra Sansad’ (Student Parliament).

The protests, which began on December 13, have gained considerable momentum, attracting support from political figures, activists, and educationists. On Sunday, thousands of BPSC aspirants continued their demonstration, demanding a re-examination and a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to address their concerns. As the protests moved toward the Chief Minister’s residence, clashes with the police intensified, with baton charges, water cannons, and detentions. In response, the Patna District Magistrate declared Gandhi Maidan a restricted area, and the police carried out area domination to prevent further gatherings. Despite the heavy-handed police response, the protesters remain firm in their demand for a re-examination, vowing to continue their agitation until their concerns are addressed.