Patna rocked by protests against opening teachers’ jobs for those not from Bihar

Bihar’s capital Patna was on July 1, 2023 rocked by protests against the State government’s controversial decision to allow those from other provinces to compete for teachers’ jobs

Bihar’s capital Patna was on Saturday (July 1) rocked by protests against the State government’s controversial decision to allow those from other provinces to compete for teachers’ jobs.

A massive demonstration was staged by young men and women at the Dak Bungalow crossing in the heart of Patna, creating traffic snarls, even as police took recourse to use of force for dispersal and rounded up quite a few who they found most unruly.

“The demonstration is being staged without any permission from the administration. We are trying to explain to the protesters that what they are doing is illegal. Use of force has been a last resort," Deputy Superintendent of Police, Law and Order, Patna, Nurul Haq, told reporters.

Asked about the number of people, both men and women, who have been taken into custody, the Deputy SP said, "At present, we are not in a position to give the figures. We will work it out and let details be known once we are through with maintaining order in the affected area”.

However, the protesters, who claimed to have cleared eligibility tests like CTET and BTET, alleged that the police action was reflective of the government’s apathy.

“Do these people not have any shame? We are educated people and holding a peaceful demonstration over our legitimate concerns. Yet they are using force and arresting us as if we were criminals”, said Puja Singh, a job aspirant who had come from Begusarai district.

Notably, the Nitish Kumar Cabinet had, earlier this week, announced that a “no domicile” policy will be adopted for recruitment of teachers, drawing flak from the Opposition BJP as well as the CPI(ML) Liberation which supports the 'Mahagathbandhan' government from the outside.