Patna: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, was detained by Bihar police on Monday morning. He was then forcibly taken to AIIMS in an ambulance and placed in isolation, according to reports. Despite his transfer, Kishor has reportedly refused treatment and vowed to continue his fast unto death.
A video shared by ANI showed a large team of Patna police attempting to remove Kishor from the protest site while his fellow demonstrators tried to hold on to him. Other protesters at the site were also forcibly removed by the police. He will be produced in the court later today.
About Prashant Kishor's Indefinite Hunger Strike
Kishor began his hunger strike on January 2 to support students protesting against the alleged paper leak of the integrated 70th combined (preliminary) competitive test conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) on December 13. He demanded the cancellation of the exam, which sparked widespread protests.
The protest site at Gandhi Maidan is located just a few kilometres away from where students have been staging a continuous demonstration for over two weeks, braving cold weather, police baton charges and water cannons.
In his recent statement, Kishor criticised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of ignoring the students' plight while vacationing in Delhi. "Till this issue is resolved, I will remain on a fast-unto-death," he declared, highlighting the struggles of the protesting students.
Kishor also announced that his party would file a petition in the Patna High Court on January 7 to address the alleged irregularities in the BPSC examination. "We will continue this fight. Our petition in the High Court is a step toward ensuring justice for the candidates," he said.
About The 'Vanity Van' Controversy
During the protest, a controversy erupted over a luxury 'vanity van' parked near the protest site. Critics accused Kishor of insincerity, questioning why such a vehicle was present during his hunger strike. In response, Kishor defended its use, explaining that he used the van to avoid accusations of breaking his fast.
"If I go home to use the bathroom, journalists and rivals will claim I went to eat or sleep. The van prevents such baseless allegations," he said. He dismissed the claims about the van’s cost, calling them absurd. "People say the van costs Rs 4 crore and is rented for Rs 25 lakh. If that’s true, give me that money. This is sheer foolishness," he retorted.
