Prashant Kishor Arrested: Protest Ends at Gandhi Maidan

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Prashant Kishor was arrested during his hunger strike in Gandhi Maidan, Patna.
He demanded the cancellation of the BPSC exam over alleged question paper leaks.
Police declared the protest illegal and filed an FIR against Kishor and supporters.
BPSC conducted a peaceful retest for affected candidates on January 4.
Kishor plans to file a plea in the High Court seeking the exam’s cancellation.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Summary of Events

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor’s hunger strike, demanding the cancellation of the BPSC exam, ended with his arrest on January 8. The protest occurred at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, where Kishor and his supporters defied administrative orders.

Reason for Arrest

Patna Police, acting on an FIR filed by the administration, deemed the protest illegal. District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh cited a High Court order restricting protests to Gardani Bagh, not Gandhi Maidan.

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BPSC Exam Controversy

On December 13, allegations of a question paper leak marred the BPSC 70th preliminary test. Responding to concerns, the commission held a retest on January 4 for selected candidates. The retest, conducted at 22 centers, saw participation from 5,943 out of 12,012 registered candidates and concluded without malpractice.

Kishor’s Statement and Future Plan

After his arrest, Kishor reaffirmed his commitment to the cause, announcing plans to approach the High Court on January 9 to file a petition against the exam. “We will continue to fight this battle,” he stated.

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Administrative Actions

Following Kishor’s removal, authorities launched a vehicle check drive at Gandhi Maidan. JD(U) criticized Kishor for ignoring the rules and accused him of using the protest for political gain.