Jharkhand job aspirants march to Assembly, face water cannons, baton-charge
Jharkhand job aspirants march to Assembly, face water cannons, baton-charge
M.U.H
10/08/202617
Thousands of job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand faced water cannons and a police baton-charge on Monday as they breached multiple barricades while marching towards the state Assembly, escalating their 17-day agitation.
Armed with tricolours and placards, they raised slogans in support of their demands, with some demonstrators breaking into dance as police used water cannons at the final barricade.
The protesters, whose agitation entered its 17th day, breached several police barricades before being stopped near Jagannathpur Temple on the road leading to the new Assembly Complex.
The ED has taken cognisance of an FIR registered by the state police CID and other complaints to initiate an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said.
The development came as the protesters continued to demand a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations despite the state government maintaining that it has accepted "98 per cent of the demands".
Protesters demand CBI probe
The march began around 10.30 am from outside the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa and coincided with chief minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday. The protesters were seeking to reach the new Vidhan Sabha building.
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a fast for nine days over the issue, joined the march in an ambulance despite losing 10.5 kg. He was seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
"We are protesting peacefully, and we urge everyone to help us maintain that peace. We are raising the voice of lakhs of students who are fighting for their dreams and careers... My health is failing," he said.
A protester said, "If we cannot reach the assembly, our voices must reach them. We do not fear the government, which is treating us like traitors. We have been compelled to take to the streets."
The placards carried by the demonstrators read "Cancel JSSC-CGL Exams or Conduct a CBI Probe", "Why is CID escaping from conducting a raid on JSSC?" and "Conduct an impartial investigation, bring out the truth."
The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which is spearheading the agitation, said it had deployed around 500 volunteers to prevent anti-social elements from joining the march.
DSP Arvind Kumar Verma said the march had so far been peaceful and police were exercising restraint.
Prohibitory orders were imposed and heavy security was deployed along the nearly four-km route, with more than 1,500 personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and Quick Reaction Teams stationed in the area. Most schools in Ranchi were also closed, officials said.
Government claims 98 per cent demands accepted
The government has held several rounds of talks with the demonstrators but failed to resolve the deadlock. While the government said it had accepted 98 per cent of their demands, the protesters maintained that only three of the 13 examinations they wanted scrapped had been agreed to be cancelled.
"We will not compromise till our demand for a CBI probe is fulfilled," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.
The government has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC examination, proposed an ED probe into alleged financial irregularities in the JPSC examination and announced a fast-track court that would file charge sheets within 90 days.
The protesters, however, are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), besides cancellation of several recruitment examinations and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities either by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.
The JPSC, which is at the centre of the controversy, witnessed a major shake-up on Sunday when all three of its members -- Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad -- resigned. The resignations came after the Jharkhand CID summoned them for questioning over allegations including paper leaks.
Nineteen people have so far been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.
BJP backs agitation, stages protest
The BJP backed the students' agitation and accused the Congress of maintaining "double standards" over the protests in Jharkhand.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said, "Those who were trying till the end to politically hijack the students' movement in Delhi, who were restless, sometimes sitting in buses and sometimes taking out foot marches, where are those so-called leaders now?"
He alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had no time to listen to the students because Jharkhand is governed by a party that is an alliance partner of the Congress.
"Even Rahul Gandhi ji does not have time to listen to them now because the government is yours in Jharkhand. This is a double standard. There was restlessness in Delhi, but there is not even a word to say there," he said.
"Now they do not have any such bus in which they can go to Rajghat, stage a protest and say a few words," Chugh said.
The Rajya Sabha MP said the students' demands should be addressed and urged protesters to remain peaceful.
"My appeal is that students should be heard, understood and their demands should be fulfilled. I appeal to everyone that protest is our right and Satyagraha is our strength, but under no circumstances should we take the law into our own hands," he said.
Separately, BJP leaders, including state unit chief Aditya Sahu and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, staged a sit-in outside chief minister Hemant Soren's residence demanding a CBI probe into the alleged examination irregularities. A police official said several BJP leaders, including Sahu and Marandi, were detained.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said he and several other party leaders had been under "house arrest" since 7 am.
Sahu alleged that the state government was "selling" the jobs of poor students and said the protesters would get justice only through a CBI probe.
"The government has no courage to recommend a CBI probe, as they want to enjoy the perks of power," he alleged.
BJP leaders also alleged that the CID investigation was an eyewash and claimed that the youths had no faith in the state agency.
