Ranchi : Students protesting alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations in Jharkhand are set to march to the state Assembly on Monday. Both sides accused each other of not being serious about resolving the issue, with the deadlock centred on the students’ demand for a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and cancellation of a Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examination. The government has rejected these demands.
The protesters said the Assembly march would go ahead despite appeals from Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar to return to the negotiating table. Security arrangements have been tightened across Ranchi ahead of the protest. “Even after three rounds of talks, the government has not conceded to 100 per cent of our demands. Regarding the march to the Legislative Assembly scheduled for Monday, aspirants and our fellow supporters from all districts of Jharkhand are extending our moral support.
The protesters’ key demands include cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities, acceptance of the examination reform model proposed by the students and adherence to their suggested recruitment calendar. “If the government fails to meet even a single one of these demands, the movement will continue until they are fulfilled,” he said.
The protest leaders have urged the agitators to remain united and peaceful, march together to the Assembly without disrupting traffic or inconveniencing the public, avoid confrontation with police, report any signs of disorder and continue pressing their demands peacefully while verifying information and avoiding rumours. Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for eight days, urged students and parents across Jharkhand to join the planned Assembly march on Monday, calling August 10 “a very important day for Jharkhand”.
“Students have been troubled by paper leaks in every examination, and we are fighting against this,” Mahto said, adding that he had lost 10 kg, suffered a drop in blood sugar and was in severe pain. “But the pain of seeing question papers being leaked and students being denied jobs is greater than this physical pain.” Calling Monday a “decisive day” for the movement, Mahto appealed to protesters to gather at the Old Assembly Ground at 10.30 am and march towards the Assembly.