The ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams will take a new turn today. As Sunday’s talks with the Hemant Soren-led government failed to yield any solution, the agitators are now set to take out a protest march to the Assembly today.
Even during Sunday’s discussions, differences between the two sides persisted over the core demands. The protesters remain firm on their demands, which include cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level exam, a CBI probe into irregularities in recruitment exams, acceptance of the exam reform measures proposed by students, and adherence to the stipulated recruitment calendar.
On the other hand, the government claims it has accepted most of the students’ demands, but has not agreed to the demand for a CBI probe. It is due to this stand of the government that the deadlock in talks continues. The agitators have also rejected the government’s claim that it has accepted 98 percent of the demands.
In this situation, the protesters will today take out a march from the Old Assembly premises to the new Assembly building. A large number of students are scheduled to gather at the Old Assembly ground at 10:30 AM and join the march. The protest leaders have urged the demonstrators to ensure the march remains peaceful and that vehicular movement is not disrupted.
Meanwhile, amid the agitation, the health of student leader Devendra Nath Mahto who has been on a hunger strike for eight days, has deteriorated. He has called upon students and parents of Jharkhand to participate in today’s Assembly march. He said the protest will continue until question paper leaks and irregularities in recruitment are stopped and a transparent examination system is ensured.
The government has also clarified its stand on the protesters’ demands. Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudev Kumar said the government has accepted most of the demands and has no intention of shielding anyone involved in exam irregularities. As per the government’s proposal, the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission exam has been cancelled, and a decision has also been taken to form an expert committee on the demands of candidates and exam reforms.
The government has proposed forming an expert committee with representatives from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur for exam reforms. It has also announced the formation of a committee headed by a retired High Court judge to review the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level exam.
However, the government has not accepted the demand for a CBI probe. Citing that the JSSC Combined Graduate Level exam was conducted under the supervision of the High Court and Supreme Court, the government rejected this demand. As a result, which agency will conduct the investigation remains one of the key unresolved issues in the talks between the two sides.
Amid the agitation, three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission resigned on Sunday. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwaraccepted the resignations of Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad. The resignations came after all three were summoned by the Jharkhand CID for questioning as part of the investigation into allegations including question paper leaks and other irregularities.
Earlier, on July 22, JPSC Chairman L. Khiangte had also resigned. So far, 19 people have been arrested in connection with the investigation into exam irregularities. Khiangte has also been questioned several times by the investigating agency since July 28.
Meanwhile, in view of today’s planned march to the Assembly, police have tightened security arrangements in Ranchi. Restrictions have been imposed within a 750-meter radius of the Assembly building from August 6 to August 12. During this period, the restrictions will be in place from 6 AM to 10 PM.
