BPSC Exam Row: Prashant Kishor Arrested During Hunger Strike in Patna

The Bihar Police on early Monday morning arrested Jan Suraj Party cheif, Prashant Kishor, as he was sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan in Patna. According to reports, Kishor was taken to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in an ambulance. Despite being taken to the hospital, Kishor refused treatment and declared that he would continue his fast unto death.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Awakash Kumar, Kishor and several others were involved in an illegal protest in the restricted area around the Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan. "An FIR was lodged at Gandhi Maidan police station for illegally protesting in the restricted area. Despite repeated requests and sufficient time given, the place was not vacated," SSP Kumar stated. "They are completely healthy. Action is being taken to present them before the court as per the prescribed procedure," added Kumar.

In a videos widely shared across social media, a large contingent of Patna police can be seen trying to remove Kishor from the protest site, with his fellow protesters attempting to hold him back. The police also cleared the other demonstrators from the area.

Kishor, who made his name as an election strategist before fully entering politics, began his indefinite hunger strike on January 2. His protest is in support of students who are demanding the cancellation of the 70th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Test conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13. The students allege a paper leak and have been on protest for weeks.

"The students are protesting in biting cold, braving baton charges and water cannons. The Chief Minister is away in Delhi, enjoying himself, and hasn't said a word when reporters approached him in the national capital," Kishor had earlier said, emphasizing his solidarity with the students.

Kishor reiterated his commitment to the protest, stating, "I am with these students with all my might... Till this issue is resolved, I’ll be sitting on a fast-unto-death." He also announced plans for his party to file a petition in the Patna High Court on January 7 regarding the alleged irregularities in the BPSC exam. "It is not a matter of decision for us whether we will continue this (protest) or not. We will continue doing what we are doing now. There will be no change in it," he added.