Patna: Independent MP Pappu Yadav joined protesting BPSC candidates in Patna’s Gardanibagh, sitting on a dharna for over 14 hours. He arrived at the protest site around midnight on Monday and stayed through the cold night, wrapped in blankets under an open sky. The candidates have been protesting for the last seven days, demanding the cancellation of the 70th PT examination due to allegations of paper leaks. The health of two candidates deteriorated during the protest and they were taken to the hospital.
During his stay, Pappu Yadav interacted with the candidates, reviewed their concerns, and discussed the question paper with them. Addressing the media, he criticized the inaction of opposition leaders and called on them to show stronger support. He urged all MLAs and MPs to organize dharnas outside the homes of government officials, stating, “This is a matter of the students’ lives.”
Tejashwi Yadav, Leader of Opposition, also visited the protest site on Sunday night, staying for about half an hour. He expressed solidarity with the candidates, holding a poster demanding the re-conduct of the examination. Tejashwi blamed the government and BPSC for the paper leaks, asserting, “During my tenure as Deputy CM, there were no paper leaks. The current administration is responsible for the injustice.”
Pappu Yadav alleged that the paper leak was orchestrated by a nexus involving the government, administration, and coaching mafias, affecting over 4 lakh candidates. He demanded the cancellation of the entire examination and called for a re-examination. He emphasized that targeting only the Bapu Examination Center would not suffice and demanded a thorough investigation into those responsible for the leaks.
He claimed to have spoken with BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal, who acknowledged the issue but cited alliance constraints. Pappu advised the students to meet Jaiswal once he returns. Meanwhile, he accused the BPSC chairman and secretary of misleading the public and called for their accountability.
Education mentor Guru Rehman joined the protest alongside Pappu Yadav, strongly condemning the BPSC officials. He demanded that the exam be re-conducted immediately and pledged his support to the students. Guru Rehman vowed to go to jail if needed, stating, “The children are following Gandhi’s path. The only solution is to conduct the re-examination.”
The protests continue to intensify as students remain firm on their demand for justice. They have vowed to persist until their voices are heard. Leaders like Pappu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav have assured their support, but the situation remains unresolved.
