Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi Accuses Bihar Government Over Student Protest Crackdown
Students in Bihar are worried about how government recruitment exams are being conducted.
They say there may have been delays, unfair practices, or paper leaks.
Many students protested in Patna and wanted to meet the chief minister.
Police stopped them using water cannons and batons, and some protesters threw stones.
Rahul Gandhi said the government should answer the students instead of using force.
He also mentioned a report of firing at protesters in Siwan.
A six-year-old boy named Aditya became part of the story after speaking at the protest.
Police said they took him away to keep him safe and later returned him to his mother.
The students say they want answers and accountability about their future.
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led Bihar government of using police action to avoid answering students’ recruitment-exam concerns.
Thousands of students clashed with Bihar Police in Patna while trying to march to the chief minister’s residence.
Protesters sought a single-stage written test for upcoming BPSC Teachers’ Recruitment Exams instead of prelims followed by mains.
Some protesters also demanded cancellation of earlier BPSC Combined Competitive Exams, alleging irregularities and paper leaks.
Police said six-year-old Aditya was taken to a station for his safety, not arrested, and later handed to his mother.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, student protesters, the BJP-led Bihar government, and Bihar Police were central to the reported events.
- What
- Students protested over the conduct of BPSC recruitment examinations, while Rahul Gandhi criticized the government’s police response.
- When
- The main confrontation occurred on Tuesday, and Rahul Gandhi made his remarks on Wednesday; one report is dated August 26.
- Where
- The main protest took place in Patna, beginning at Gandhi Maidan; Gandhi also referred to firing in Siwan.
- Why
- Protesters sought a single-stage Teachers’ Recruitment Exam and raised allegations of irregularities, paper leaks, delays, and a lack of transparency.
Protesters and Rahul Gandhi
Bihar Government and Police
Handling of student grievances
Protesters and Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi and the protesters said authorities should answer questions about recruitment-exam irregularities, alleged paper leaks, delays, exam patterns, and transparency.
Bihar Government and Police
Police prevented the protesters from marching to the chief minister’s residence; the reports do not provide a detailed government response to the examination allegations.
Use of force
Protesters and Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP-led Bihar government of using batons, water cannons, and custody to evade accountability and said questions would continue despite such action.
Bihar Government and Police
The reports state that police used water cannons and lathi-charge after protesters and police faced a confrontation; police also said the six-year-old boy was taken away for his own safety, not arrested.
Events beyond Patna
Protesters and Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi said protesters in Siwan had even faced firing with an AK-47.
Bihar Government and Police
The reports attribute this claim to Gandhi and provide no separate police or government account of the Siwan incident.
- Main critic
- Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Protest location
- Patna, including a procession that began at Gandhi Maidan
- Examination body
- Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC)
- Students’ demand
- Conduct the upcoming Teachers’ Recruitment Exam in a single stage rather than through prelims and mains
- Other demand
- Some protesters called for cancellation of earlier BPSC Combined Competitive Exams over alleged irregularities
- Police response
- Police used water cannons and lathi-charge as protesters tried to march toward the chief minister’s residence
- Child’s case
- Police said six-year-old Aditya was held at a police station for his safety and later handed to his mother
