New Delhi: Prashant Kishor, who had last week begun a fast-unto-death to press the demand for the cancellation of a Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam in Patna, was arrested early today and then sent to jail after he refused to sign a bail bond. Later in the evening, he was released on an unconditional bail.
“Two hours ago, the Bihar Police took me to Beur Jail. The court granted unconditional bail on our request. The voice and trust of the people are stronger than any power, and the impact of the ‘satyagraha’ is evident. I accepted going to jail, but they didn’t keep me in Beur Jail as they didn’t have the papers. While waiting for the papers, the court’s verdict validated the police actions and also agreed that sitting at Gandhi Maidan for ‘satyagraha’ is not a violation of any law,” Kishor was quoted as saying by news agency PTI after he was released.
PTI reported early on January 6 that police have taken Kishor, a poll consultant who has founded the outfit Jan Suraaj, to the AIIMS in the city for a medical examination.
The news agency quoted District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh as having said that Kishor’s sit-in at Gandhi Maidan was “illegal”. Singh was quoted in multiple news reports as having said that the site is a restricted one.
Police are learnt to have vacated the site. Some videos from the police action on the site show a degree of force used against the protesters. The Hindu has reported that Kishor is reported to have been slapped by police.
A court granted him bail but set a condition that he would not participate in any future protests, Times of India reported. They set a bond of Rs 25,000.
“The court said, it did not have the power to review the order and if he doesn’t agree to the condition, he can approach higher courts,” Kishor’s lawyer Shivanand Giri told PTI.
Kishor began his fast on January 2, three days after giving the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar a “48-hour ultimatum” to cancel the exam.
Allegations of a paper leak have led to protests across Bihar, demanding the cancellation of the 70th combined preliminary competitive exam of the BPSC.
“My primary demand, of course, is cancellation of the exam held on December 13 and conducting a fresh test. I have also heard allegations that posts to be filled by the exam were virtually put on sale. Such corrupt officials must be identified and brought to justice”, Kishor had said, according to PTI, while beginning his fast.
This report, first published at 10.37 am on January 6, 2025, was republished at 4:08 pm and 8.34 pm on the same date, with new updates.
