Ranchi, Aug 6: Protesting students in Jharkhand have constituted an 11-member delegation to hold talks with the state government over alleged irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Preliminary Examination, even as they asserted that their agitation would continue until all their demands are fulfilled.
The delegation, formed under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, comprises eight students, one lawyer and two technical experts. The list has been submitted to Ranchi Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Kumar Rajat, while the state government is expected to announce the time and venue for the proposed meeting.
The protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi entered its 13th day on Thursday, with student leader Devendra Mahato continuing his indefinite hunger strike for the fifth consecutive day.
Mahato reiterated that the agitation would not be withdrawn until the government accepts the protesters’ demands.
“The protests will continue until our demands are met,” he said.
The students are demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination, which they allege was marred by irregularities during its conduct by TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL). They have also sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged recruitment scam and comprehensive reforms in Jharkhand’s recruitment examination system.
The government initiated the dialogue process after Ranchi SDO Kumar Rajat visited the protest site on Wednesday and invited student representatives for discussions with ministers and senior officials.
However, the protesters have made it clear that they would not participate in closed-door negotiations and have insisted that the discussions be held publicly in the presence of journalists and cameras to ensure transparency.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the alleged examination irregularities is being carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) with the involvement of the Crime Investigation Department (CID). So far, 19 people have been arrested in connection with the case.
In the latest development, the CID arrested Rakshak Singh, an accountant with TDPL, from Lucknow. Officials alleged that Singh was involved in conducting the JPSC Preliminary Examination and had also qualified in the same examination.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren described paper leaks as a nationwide challenge and expressed hope that dialogue would help break the deadlock.
“Paper leaks are a national problem and discussion could solve the impasse,” the Chief Minister said.
State Minister Sudivya Kumar welcomed the students’ decision to participate in talks and expressed optimism about reaching a solution.
“I would like to thank the students who have given a positive response. A fruitful discussion is possible today,” he said.
The issue also triggered political sparring, with the opposition BJP questioning the credibility of the ongoing investigation and reiterating its demand for a CBI inquiry.
BJP chief whip Naveen Jaiswal alleged that the government-appointed committee and the CID lacked public confidence.
“The government has set up a committee. But it should know that nobody trusts its CID and committee. The probe should be conducted by the CBI,” he said.
The proposed talks are expected to be the first formal engagement between the Hemant Soren government and the student protesters since the agitation began, amid mounting pressure over alleged recruitment examination irregularities in the state.
