CPI(ML) Bihar state secretary Kunal strongly condemned the police lathicharge on students protesting in Patna over their demands on August 25, calling it a shameful and anti-student action. He said candidates appearing for BPSC, BSSC, police recruitment, TRE-4 and other competitive examinations had been protesting at Gardanibagh for a long time, with several students also on hunger strike. On Tuesday, the students had marched peacefully towards the Chief Minister’s residence to press their demands and bring their grievances to the government. Instead of listening to them, the government used water cannons and then resorted to a brutal lathicharge, he said.
Kunal said several students were injured in the police action. Many suffered serious head injuries, with reports of students sustaining injuries to their heads, while several injured protesters had to be admitted to hospitals. He said such repression of students who were peacefully raising their demands was deeply disturbing for democracy.
The CPI(ML) state secretary said the BJP’s anti-student approach was evident from Delhi to Bihar. Instead of addressing the legitimate concerns of students and ensuring transparency in examinations, the government was using police force against them, reflecting its insensitivity towards students and youth.
Kunal demanded that the government immediately accept the legitimate demands of candidates appearing for BPSC, BSSC, police recruitment, TRE-4 and other competitive examinations. Irregularities in competitive examinations must be addressed and the examination system reformed to ensure complete transparency, he said.
He also demanded an immediate end to the repression of students, proper medical treatment for those injured in the lathicharge and dialogue with the protesting students to resolve their grievances. He said any attempt to crush the democratic rights of students would not be accepted.
