By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: A delegation of officials, led by Sadar SDM Gaurav Kumar, visited Gardnibagh Dharna Sthal on Saturday to engage with BPSC candidates protesting in the capital, Patna. The officials proposed that the candidates form a team of five representatives to communicate their concerns effectively.
Subsequently, a team of five candidates was constituted. However, when they inquired about the next steps, the SDM stated that they would be introduced to the chairman of the commission. This response angered the candidates, who insisted they would only meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and no one else.
Educationist Guru Rahman, present at the protest, remarked that both he and the candidates were unwell due to the ongoing demonstration. He clarified that the protest was against the normalisation process in the BPSC examination, not a question paper leak. He accused the authorities of attempting to impose normalisation, which the candidates oppose. Rahman further stated, “The arrival of government representatives signifies the movement’s success. My appeal to CM Nitish Kumar is to address this as an issue of normalisation, not a leak. The chairman and secretary are misleading you. Please order a re-examination and ensure the exam is conducted in a single sitting.”
Candidate Ritesh Kumar criticised the officials for proposing a meeting with the commission chairman, asserting that their sole demand is a discussion with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. “We have been protesting for 11 days. This is not to meet the chairman, who labelled us miscreants. If we are denied a meeting with the Chief Minister, the protest will persist,” he said.
SDM Gaurav Kumar urged the candidates to follow constitutional procedures, explaining that the commission is a constitutional body. He suggested they first present their grievances to the commission before seeking a meeting with the Chief Minister. However, the candidates refused to heed his advice, compelling the SDM to leave without resolving the issue.
The BPSC 70th preliminary examination, held on 13 December 2024, has been marred by controversy. At Patna’s Bapu Bhawan examination centre, candidates raised an uproar over issues such as delayed question paper distribution and unsealed papers. While initial allegations of a question paper leak surfaced, the focus of the protest has shifted to opposing the normalisation process. Hundreds of candidates boycotted the exam and have been demonstrating ever since, demanding a re-examination and a meeting with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
