Ranchi, Sept 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given the Jharkhand government a 48-hour deadline to withdraw cases registered against students protesting over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
A BJP delegation comprising MPs, MLAs and senior party leaders met Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar and submitted a memorandum outlining its demands.
The party sought the withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesting students and called for a CBI investigation into allegations of irregularities in recruitment examinations. It also demanded action against all those found responsible for alleged wrongdoing and sought action against ruling party workers accused of violence during the student protests.
Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu said students who had spent years preparing for government recruitment examinations were facing uncertainty because of allegations of examination malpractice, paper leaks and corruption.
He questioned the registration of cases against a large number of students and alleged that more than 1,000 protesters had been booked despite their demonstrations being peaceful. He also accused the government of failing to take action against ruling party workers allegedly involved in violence against students.
The BJP warned that it would launch a statewide movement in support of the students if the government failed to address the issue within the stipulated period.
The controversy is linked to protests organised by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch on August 21. The group had announced demonstrations across all 24 districts of Jharkhand, including plans to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.Clashes were reported during the protests in Ranchi, Giridih and Hazaribagh, following which three separate FIRs were registered.
More than 1,000 students were reportedly named or booked in connection with the incidents.The protesting students, however, alleged that they were chased and assaulted with bamboo sticks by workers associated with the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
The allegations have added to the political dispute surrounding the protests.
The demonstrations came shortly after the Jharkhand High Court stayed an order related to the cancellation of several recruitment processes, including examinations associated with the JPSC Combined Civil Services, Food Safety Officer, JSSC Combined Graduate Level and Child Development Project Officer recruitments.
The BJP said it would intensify its agitation if action was not taken within 48 hours, further escalating the political confrontation between the opposition party and the JMM-led state government over issues concerning recruitment examinations and student protesters.
