RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took a dig at the Jan Suraj Party formed by former political strategist Prashant Kishor, accusing it of working as the ‘B team’ of the Nitish Kumar-led ruling alliance NDA in Bihar.
In a video message late on Sunday night after police used water cannon to disperse students demanding cancellation of the examination recently conducted by Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC), former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav urged Prashant Kishor and his party said the protesters were “misled” into marching towards Gandhi Maidan.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Yadav alleged, “This movement was started by students. The strike that lasted for almost two weeks in Gardnibagh, where I recently visited, had shaken the government. This time, the government “Some elements came in to act as the B team.”
He said that despite warnings from the administration, the protesters were misled to march towards Gandhi Maidan. He said that when the time came to face the lathicharge and water cannons, he ran away after offering to lead the protest.
It is noteworthy that the teenagers were not there when the police used force. But he addressed the protesters along with his supporters on Sunday, due to which an FIR has been lodged against Kishor and Jan Suraj Party president Manoj Bharti and several others.
Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh said the protesters, who included Prashant Kishor on Sunday, made a forced attempt to march towards the chief minister’s residence in the evening, prompting the police to take action.
Yadav said his party would use its influence to “politically support” the protesters’ demand for cancellation of the combined competitive examinations held on December 13. He said, “But you should not be influenced by empty promises. You should stick to your words. It is absurd to say that BPSC does not come under the government. Its Chairman is a person appointed by the Chief Minister. Here the Chief Minister incidentally also holds the Home Department. The police are handling the situation and are under the control of the Home Department.
It is noteworthy that BPSC has decided to re-conduct the exam for over 10,000 candidates who were given the exam center at Bapu in the city, where hundreds of people had boycotted the exam alleging that the question paper was “leaked”. The BPSC rejected the allegation, claiming that the examination was disrupted as part of a “conspiracy” to get it cancelled.
