Ranchi, August 10: Thousands of students protested against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations on Monday, breaking through police barricades to approach the state assembly. Inside the assembly, the echoes of the student movement were also heard.
The proceedings began in the absence of BJP legislators, who had gathered to surround the Chief Minister‘s residence under the leadership of opposition leader Babulal Marandi, only to be detained by police. CPI ML MLA Arup Chatterjee demanded a detailed account of the government’s discussions with the protesting students to be presented in the assembly. In response, Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu provided information about the talks between the government and the students.
He stated that the government had accepted nearly 98% of the students’ demands. The minister explained that a high-level committee formed to consider the students’ requests categorized them mainly into three areas: investigating examination-related issues, canceling controversial exams, and improving the recruitment process.
He mentioned that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already working to investigate the alleged irregularities in the exams. If financial irregularities are uncovered, the government is prepared to request an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The government has also agreed to review exams conducted by the controversial outsourcing agency and cancel them if necessary.
Regarding the JSSC-CGL examination, which is pending in the High Court and Supreme Court, the government proposed forming a committee chaired by a retired High Court judge to oversee the investigation. However, the students did not accept this proposal.
On improving recruitment examinations, the minister announced that a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would be developed. Experts from institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, and Xavier School of Management Jamshedpur will be consulted. The government’s aim is to make the recruitment process more transparent and reliable.
Meanwhile, protests continued outside the assembly as students from various districts breached barricades to approach the assembly. Police established multiple layers of security to prevent them. The students’ main demands include canceling controversial exams and conducting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the entire matter. Inside the assembly, the government accused the BJP of politically hijacking the student movement.
The minister emphasized that the issues faced by students could be resolved through dialogue and urged the movement not to take on a political hue. He appealed to the protesting students to maintain peace, stating that the government is ready to resolve their issues through discussion. However, action will be taken against those attempting to disrupt law and order or incite violence.
Leave a Comment