‘Students’ future met with police force’: ABVP condemns lathi-charge during JPSC, JSSC protests in Jharkhand

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has condemned the lathi-charge, use of water cannons and arrest of students in Jharkhand during the protests against the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) exam irregularities.

The police action during the students’ protest in Jharkhand comes a day after the state government claimed that it had accepted most of the demands and asked them to withdraw their agitation.

The students, however, had refused to do so unless their demand for a CBI probe was accepted in the JPSC and JSSC exam irregularities. The ABVP also stated that reports of action against and arrests of media personnel during the protest are equally concerning.

“Students marching peacefully towards the Legislative Assembly with legitimate demands concerning their future were met with police force instead of dialogue and resolution,” ABVP said.

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ABVP questions Congress' silence on 'students' rights'

Questioning the silence of the Congress, the students’ group said that the silence of the Congress, which speaks of students’ rights and democratic protests elsewhere but remains a partner in the ruling dispensation in Jharkhand, also exposes its double standards.

The use of force against students raising serious questions about the credibility of competitive examinations once again exposes the anti-student approach of the Jharkhand Government, it added.

Moreover, A day before the protest, chief minister Hemant Soren and governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar both urged the students to end the demonstration and resolve the matter through dialogue.

Jharkhand CM also assured students that those responsible for exam irregularities would face strict action.

Notably, ABVP has also submitted a memorandum to the Jharkhand Governor, conducted signature campaigns across educational institutions and cities, and organised protests at district headquarters across the state, according to a statement by the ABVP.

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ABVP demands probe over police action on students

The students’ union has demanded that examinations whose credibility has become questionable be cancelled and conducted afresh through a transparent and impartial process.

“The police action against students must be independently investigated, accountability fixed, and a high-level probe conducted into alleged question-paper leaks and other examination irregularities,” it said.

The government must also implement technological, administrative and institutional reforms to ensure a secure and transparent examination system, it added.

In addition, the ABVP has also announced that in protest against today’s police action, it will lead a Gherao of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, tomorrow, August 11.

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ABVP to hold march tomorrow against police action

They will march from the Old Assembly Tinkonia Ground to the Legislative Assembly and raise their demands before the government.

Virendra Singh Solanki, national general secretary, ABVP, said: "The irregularities reported in JPSC and JSSC examinations have put the future of thousands of students in Jharkhand at stake. Instead of addressing their genuine concerns, the government has chosen the path of lathi-charge, water cannons and arrests against students exercising their democratic rights. This is highly condemnable and exposes the government’s anti-student attitude.”

The government must stop repression, engage with students, cancel examinations whose credibility is in doubt, ensure an impartial investigation and undertake comprehensive technological, administrative and institutional reforms in the examination system, Solanki added.