Jharkhand Protest: Govt offer reforms, students reject ‘98% demands met’ claim

The standoff between Jharkhand government and students protesting irregularities in recruitment examinations continued even after the sixth round of talks with state government. While the government claimed it had accepted 98 percent of protesters' demands, student leaders rejected the claim and said their central demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in JSSC-CGL examination.remained unfulfilled. The government has proposed an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged financial irregularities in JPSC examination.

The government said the JSSC-CGL examination was conducted under the monitoring of the High Court and the Supreme Court and therefore rejected the demand for a CBI investigation.

The students have been protesting for 16 days and have announced a 'Vidhan Sabha March' in Ranchi today. Meanwhile, Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) resigned on August 9 amid the massive protests.

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What has Jharkhand government proposed?

The state government has proposed several measures to address concerns raised by protesting students.

• The state has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC examination.
• For cases relating to examination irregularities, the government has announced a fast-track court and said charge sheets would be filed within 90 days.
• The government has also proposed an expert panel comprising representatives from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur to recommend reforms to examination process.
• Another committee, headed by a retired High Court judge, has been proposed to examine the JSSC-CGL issue.

Along with these, the Jharkhand government has launched a portal seeking suggestions from students on examination reforms. Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said an email ID had been issued to collect suggestions from aspirants on recruitment process. Government will formulate a SoP to ensure transparency in future recruitment examinations.

After the sixth round of talks on August 9, the government panel said it was unfortunate that students had not withdrawn their agitation despite the authorities agreeing most of their demands.Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the government had no intention of protecting anyone involved in examination irregularities and urged students to return to dialogue.

Students reject government's claim

The protesters have disputed government's claim that 98 percent of their demands have been accepted. Student leaders said only three of the 13 examinations they had sought to be cancelled had been scrapped. They accused JMM-led government of 'spreading lies' about the outcome of negotiations.

Student leader Ravindra Paswan told PTI that the protesters would not compromise until the demand for a CBI probe was fulfilled.

Students demand

The protesters are seeking an independent probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

Their demands include:

• A CBI probe or an investigation by retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand
• Cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination
• Cancellation of examinations they allege were affected by irregularities
• Publication of investigation findings
• Action against those found guilty
• Reforms to make future recruitment examinations transparent

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Vidhan Sabha march

The students have announced a 'Vidhan Sabha March' in Ranchi on August 10 despite the government's appeal to withdraw the agitation. However, the protesters have said the march will be peaceful and democratic. They have appealed to students across Jharkhand to participate and have sought moral support from political parties, the public and parents without giving the agitation a political colour.

Ahead this, prohibitory orders have been imposed within a 750-metre radius of the Vidhan Sabha from August 6 to August 12, between 6 am and 10 pm. Police said barricades had been installed at major points and adequate forces deployed across the city. The district administration has cautioned protesters against violence and illegal activities.

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The government has maintained that it has accepted most of the demands and wants the students to withdraw their agitation. The students, however, have refused to do so unless their demand for a CBI probe is accepted.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar have both appealed to the students to end agitation and resolve the matter through dialogue. Soren assured students that those responsible for examination irregularities would face strict action, while Gangwar said the government's doors remained open.

(With PTI inputs)