RJD President Lalu Prasad says his govt could have provided books in exam

PATNA: With visuals of mass copying in ongoing matriculation examination drawing national condemnation for Bihar, RJD President Lalu Prasad has said had it been his government it would have allowed examinees to write answers from books.

"Had it been my government we would have given books to examinees to write...only those who have read could write answers from books and for those who have not exam duration of three hours would end and they would still be searching for answers," Prasad said addressing a function after inaugurating a new school in an interior village of Buxar district yesterday.

Making fun of visuals showing parents climbing three to four storeyed building to supply chits to their wards, he had said yesterday "it appeared as lizards are sticking on a wall."

"While parents were trying to sneak inside like a cat policemen have been shown sleeping," he said.

The RJD chief criticised state Education Minister P K Shahi for putting forth lame excuse that state government alone could not check cheating in examination.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi supported Prasad favouring open book system in examination.

"Open book system in examination is prevalent in prominent universities in America and elsewhere in the world. It has the logic that only student who has read the book could trace the answer," Sushil Modi told reporters.

He, however, said its (use of book in exam) is a separate issue and could not be linked with rampant cheating in ongoing matriculation exam which drew wrath of the Patna High Court too.

"While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is trying to highlight glory of the state through function on the occasion of 'Bihar Divas', visuals of cheating in examination has piled shame on the state from across the world...its enough to show the truth of 'sushasan' (good governance) in a short spell of one month of Kumar in office," Modi said.

Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Nand Kishore Yadav took exception to RJD chief comment on mass scale use of unfair means in matriculation exam and said it reflected the way government was running with the help of RJD and Congress.

Chief spokesman of BJP in Bihar and MLA Binod Narayan Jha said it was enough to prove "Lalu Prasad has not changed. Jungle raj is in his DNA."