Patna: Purnia MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav joined protesting candidates at Gardanibagh in Patna late on Wednesday night, intensifying demands for the cancellation of the BPSC 70th PT examination. Speaking at the protest site, Yadav criticised the police for lathi-charging candidates earlier in the day near the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) office, alleging that a female protester’s hand was broken during the clash.
“I will request Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to control his police and allow students to fight in a democratic way,” Yadav said. He urged MPs and MLAs to intervene and place the students’ concerns before the chief minister. “This is not just about a paper leak. The future of candidates is at stake, and leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, and others must step forward to support this cause,” he added.
Yadav further demanded the complete cancellation of the exam, rejecting the proposed re-exam date of January 4. He called on student unions to organise roadblocks and halt rail services during the first weekend of January and proposed a Bihar bandh on a school holiday to amplify their demands.
The protest, now in its ninth day, gained further momentum earlier on Wednesday when Guru Rehman, a mentor for competitive exam aspirants, visited the site. Addressing the protesters, Rehman criticised Khan Sir, a prominent coaching teacher, without naming him directly, referring to him as a “Ranga Siyar” (cunning fox).
Rehman issued a controversial statement, warning, “If any teacher visits PMCH [Patna Medical College and Hospital] and makes reels while meeting candidates, we will cut off his hand.” This came after Khan Sir reportedly visited a candidate admitted to PMCH following health complications during an earlier protest.
The day’s tensions reached a boiling point when hundreds of candidates marched to the BPSC office, where they were met with a police lathi-charge. The candidates have been demanding the cancellation of the 70th PT examination, citing allegations of irregularities and paper leaks.
As the protests continue, pressure mounts on the state government and BPSC to address the students’ grievances. Yadav and Rehman’s involvement has added political weight to the agitation, which shows no signs of subsiding.
