RANCHI, August 22: The political row over recruitment examinations in Jharkhand intensified on Saturday, with senior BJP leaders demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and accusing the JMM-led state government of using force against protesting job aspirants.
Former chief minister Champai Soren, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi separately criticised the government over clashes between police and students reported in Ranchi, Hazaribag, Giridih and other districts on Friday.
Champai Soren alleged that students were beaten while protesting against the recruitment examination issue and demanded that the state government recommend a CBI inquiry.
“JMM workers and police thrashed the students who were peacefully protesting and attempting to burn effigies of the chief minister,” Soren alleged.
He claimed that protesters had obtained administrative permission for the demonstrations and accused the government of having no intention of addressing their grievances.
The BJP leader also questioned the handling of alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).
“Former JPSC chairman is in jail, while other members have been forced to resign. Now, who will submit the documents related to irregularities?” he asked.
The dispute intensified after the Jharkhand government cancelled 22 recruitment examinations and ordered probes into 23 others following a 26-day protest over alleged irregularities.
The move, however, triggered fresh protests from candidates who had cleared some of the examinations and feared that the cancellation could affect their appointments. Several candidates subsequently approached the Jharkhand High Court, which stayed a number of government notifications cancelling recruitment examinations.
Following the court’s intervention, candidates staged protests across several districts on Friday.
Sanjay Seth demanded a CBI probe into recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), particularly those held over the past six years.
He accused JMM workers and police of assaulting students during Friday’s protests and alleged that people in positions of power had “sold jobs” and collected more than Rs 1,000 crore. The allegations could not be independently verified.
Marandi also condemned the alleged attacks on protesting students and demanded that those responsible be identified and arrested.
He said the use of force against students protesting over recruitment examinations amounted to an attack on their democratic and constitutional rights.
“The attempt to silence students’ voices with sticks and batons is an attack on democracy,” Marandi said.
The BJP leaders’ statements come as the dispute over Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations continues, with candidates seeking clarity over their appointments and the opposition stepping up pressure on the Hemant Soren government.
