RANCHI, August 22: Union Minister of State for Defence and senior BJP leader Sanjay Seth on Saturday criticised the Hemant Soren government over alleged attacks on students during protests in Jharkhand and urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit Ranchi and meet the injured protesters.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP office, Seth alleged that students and protesters were assaulted by JMM workers and subjected to lathi-charge by police during demonstrations in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Giridih and Garhwa on Friday.
“Innocent students were assaulted by JMM goons and subjected to lathi-charges by the police,” Seth alleged, adding that injured students who went to hospitals were allegedly denied treatment.
Seth demanded a CBI probe into all recruitment examinations conducted in Jharkhand over the past six years, including those conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
He alleged that students had lost faith in a probe by the state CID and claimed that only a CBI investigation could ensure a thorough inquiry into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Seth also criticised Rahul Gandhi, calling him an “opportunist” and alleging that the Congress leader had not expressed concern over the injuries suffered by protesting students.
“If you really care about students, come to Ranchi, stand in solidarity with the protesting students of Jharkhand, and demand a CBI inquiry,” Seth said, challenging Gandhi to visit the state.
He further alleged that people in the corridors of power had extorted more than Rs 1,000 crore by allegedly selling government jobs. The allegations could not be independently verified.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also attacked the state government and demanded that those responsible for the alleged attacks on students be identified, cases registered and arrests made.
Speaking in Giridih, Marandi alleged that JMM workers had chased and beaten students at Jhanda Maidan and claimed similar incidents had occurred in Hazaribagh, Ranchi and other locations.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP leader Champai Soren also accused the state government of betraying students and alleged that recruitment examinations were cancelled to avoid a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the JPSC-JSSC recruitment process.
The BJP leaders’ remarks came amid heightened tensions over recruitment examinations in Jharkhand, with student groups continuing their protests over alleged irregularities and demanding greater transparency in the recruitment process.
