Ranchi, Aug 13: Jharkhand Assembly Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Thursday urged the state government to immediately remove barricades erected around the Chief Minister’s residence on Kanke Road, alleging that the security arrangements were causing severe inconvenience to the public amid an ongoing student agitation.
The Ranchi administration has stepped up security around the Chief Minister’s residence ahead of Independence Day and in view of a possible protest march by students demonstrating against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Marandi alleged that the barricading of Kanke Road, one of Ranchi’s busiest stretches, had disrupted normal life and caused prolonged traffic jams.
“In the name of securing the chief minister’s residence, main roads and the extremely busy Kanke Road have been blocked, holding the entire capital’s public life hostage,” Marandi said in a social media post.
The BJP leader questioned the government’s security measures, saying the students’ movement was democratic and peaceful.
“Why is the government so terrified of students peacefully protesting in Ranchi for their legitimate demands? When the students’ movement is entirely democratic and peaceful, then for whose sake is this unnecessary show of force?” he asked.
Marandi claimed that commuters, schoolchildren and vehicles providing essential services were bearing the brunt of the restrictions.
“The common public, schoolchildren, and vehicles providing essential services are trapped for hours in severe traffic jams, bearing the brunt of this insensitivity,” he said.
The students’ agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations entered its 20th day on Thursday. The protesters have refused to call off the stir until their demands, including greater transparency in recruitment examinations and action over alleged irregularities, are addressed.
Marandi called for the government to engage with the protesting students and resolve the issue through dialogue.
“The government must immediately remove the barricades, normalise traffic, and set aside its ego to find a solution through dialogue with the students. Stop harassing the public!” he said.
The student agitation has also become a point of political confrontation in the state, with opposition parties targeting the Hemant Soren government over its handling of the protests.
Marandi’s remarks came as security arrangements around the Chief Minister’s residence remained heightened amid the continuing student movement and preparations for Independence Day.
