Patna, Aug 26 (IANS) On the protests by students in Patna, Bihar Minister Ramkripal Yadav on Wednesday said that the state government was taking the concerns of students seriously and that Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary himself had initiated efforts to consider their legitimate demands.

Speaking to IANS, Yadav said the government was working promptly to address the issues raised by the protesting students.

“Regarding the issues faced by students, the government is extremely serious. The Chief Minister himself has taken the initiative and decided to consider the legitimate demands of the students. I believe that the government, including the Chief Minister himself, is working promptly to resolve their issues,” he said.

The minister, however, alleged that some political parties were attempting to take political advantage of the protest.

“Some political parties are trying to benefit from this protest. I would request the students to remain patient and keep themselves safe. The government is working to resolve whatever problems they have,” Yadav told IANS.

Reacting to the protest, Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said the anger and resentment among students had reached the doorstep of the government.

“The outrage and anger of the students has reached the doorstep of this arrogant government. If the government still does not heed this warning and fails to understand their anger and outrage, then difficulties lie ahead for it,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, the protest intensified in Patna on Tuesday as students broke through police barricades while attempting to gherao the Bihar Chief Minister’s residence. Police used water cannons to disperse the agitators.

A large number of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) job aspirants and other students began their pre-announced march from Gandhi Maidan and reached the Dak Bungalow crossing, where police detained several protesters.

Many students carrying the National Flag jostled with police personnel and broke through barricades at the Dak Bungalow crossing. Police subsequently used water cannons to control the crowd. Several students were also seen dancing under the water spray, while police alleged that some protesters threw stones.

Heavy police deployment was made at major intersections across the city. Additional security personnel, including CRPF and RAF teams, were deployed at the Dak Bungalow crossing.

The students have been protesting at Gardanibagh in Patna for several weeks. Their key demands include a single-tier examination for BPSC-TRE 4, greater transparency in the recruitment process, timely examinations by the Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC), and fair opportunities for Hindi-medium candidates.

Citing alleged irregularities in the 70th BPSC examination, the protesting students have also demanded that the examination be cancelled.

–IANS

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