The job aspirants and student unions agitating against the alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams for nearly a month in Ranchi on Wednesday announced a 60-day suspension of their indefinite sit-in after the state government conceded to almost all of their key demands.
The decision was announced by student representatives at a press conference at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium grounds, calling it a strategic pause to see if the government fulfils its promises. They further warned of resuming the protest if the government falls short in implementing them.
Hemant Soren's government on student demands
The development comes in the backdrop of chief minister Hemant Soren-led state government announcing the cancellation of 22 exams and ordered a probe into 23 others that were being conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), an outsourced agency, since 2014.
The probe was ordered based on findings from the ongoing probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police into alleged irregularities, including paper leaks, bribery, and OMR sheet manipulations, in these exams.
The administration also expanded the ongoing CID probe to review all public recruitment exams held since 2014 and established a dedicated reform committee under a senior IAS officer to overhaul the examination infrastructure.
{{/usCountry}}The administration also expanded the ongoing CID probe to review all public recruitment exams held since 2014 and established a dedicated reform committee under a senior IAS officer to overhaul the examination infrastructure.
{{/usCountry}}Also Read I Jharkhand govt cancels 22 exams based on probe findings as protests continue
Student rep issues 60-day period to government
Talking to reporters, students’ representative Kunal Singh said: “We are not going to end the agitation, but we have unanimously decided on a postponement to give the government an opportunity to honour its words given to students.”
Singh further raised a demand for the government’s legal support.
“We also expect the government to support us in the court. Government should file a caveat and put its argument in favour of its cabinet decision properly,” Singh said. “We also expect transparency in investigation the government has promised. If this does not happen, we will resume our protest.”
While student leaders, including Devendra Nath Mahto and two others, broke their fasts after 16 days following the government’s notifications, the student bodies emphasised that their ultimate demand for a probe into irregularities by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remains on the table.
State minister Irfan Ansari reiterated that the government stood with the youth. “A consensus has been reached... the government is with the youth...,” he told reporters.
Also Read I A father's legacy, a son’s government: The symbolism in Jharkhand protesters carrying Shibu Soren's portrait
Meanwhile, the students leaders also took out “Abhar Yatra” (thanksgiving) procession for all the students and guardians who supported their movement to bring reforms and overhaul in the system. The ‘yatra’ that started from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the protest site, culminated at the Albert Ekka Chowk in the state capital.
“This is the result of a 16-day hunger strike and 24 days of ‘satyagraha’. The ‘satyagraha’ started on August 24, and the hunger strike on August 2,” student leader Mahto said, while also expressing his gratitude to chief minister Soren for addressing their concerns.