New Delhi/Ranchi, Aug 11: Independent MP Parimal Nathwani on Tuesday urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to sympathetically consider the demands of protesting students and resolve the standoff through dialogue, a day after police used lathis, tear gas and water cannons during an Assembly march in Ranchi.
Nathwani termed the lathicharge on students “truly unfortunate” and appealed to Soren to meet the protesters immediately to find a way forward.
“I strongly believe that a peaceful resolution through dialogue is the best way forward to protect the aspirations of our young candidates,” Nathwani said in a post on X.
The ongoing agitation centres on alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The protesting aspirants have been demanding cancellation of the JSSC-Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment examination process.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Nathwani said the state government had already addressed around 80 per cent of the protesters’ demands but should examine the remaining issues.
“The state government has already met about 80% of their demands. The CM should have looked into the remaining key issues,” he said.
Referring to Monday’s confrontation, Nathwani said the students had first gone to the chief minister’s residence and later towards the Assembly, where police action followed.
“The lathi-charge that occurred was truly unfortunate. I would urge Hemant Soren to sit down with them immediately and find a way forward,” he said.
He expressed solidarity with the protesting youth while stressing that dialogue was the only sustainable way to resolve the dispute.
“Your issues are significant, and we stand with you regarding what you have endured, but a resolution will only come through dialogue,” Nathwani said.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand minister Deepika Pandey Singh defended the government’s handling of the agitation, saying discussions with the protesters had been continuing for four days.
“In a democracy, there is permission for protests; people are free to hold them,” Singh said, adding that the administration had been instructed to maintain law and order.
Responding to allegations of a communication gap, Singh said, “It wasn’t a lack of communication; we held discussions for hours–talks have been ongoing for four days.”
She said the government had agreed to all demands that fell within its jurisdiction.
“We agreed to everything that was within the state government’s capacity to address,” Singh said.
On the demand for cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, Singh said the issue involved judicial directives and that the government had to operate within constitutional and established legal frameworks.
“The issue they are adamant about cancelling the CGL exam involves judicial directives,” she said.
At the same time, Singh said the government was open to investigating alleged financial irregularities and was willing to have the probe conducted under judicial monitoring.
“We have kept the investigation open-ended; the state government is ready to have the probe conducted under judicial monitoring,” she said.
The minister also said the government had invited the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate allegations of financial misappropriation.
“We have even invited the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate the allegations of financial misappropriation,” Singh said.
The developments came amid continuing protests by students and job aspirants over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations, with protesters demanding greater transparency, reforms and independent investigation.
