Ranchi, Aug 11: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday hit back at BJP legislators for displaying bundles of currency notes inside the Assembly, alleging that the opposition was using the recruitment examination controversy for political purposes.
The BJP MLAs had brandished the currency notes in the House in an apparent attempt to link alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations with a cash-for-jobs scam.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly after the House was adjourned sine die, Soren accused the opposition of disrupting proceedings due to “political ambition”.
“We made all efforts to ensure that the Assembly functions, but the opposition thwarted it due to their political ambition,” he said.
Taking a swipe at the BJP legislators over the currency notes, Soren said, “BJP MLAs brandished currency notes inside the Assembly, but those notes were the foundation of their existence and their politics.”
He further alleged that money was being drained from the pockets of poor, needy people and young people.
“You are all aware of how money is being drained from the pockets of the poor, the needy, and young people,” the chief minister said.
Soren also blamed policies of the Centre for employment-related difficulties, alleging that they had resulted in students losing jobs and the closure of small, medium and large establishments.
“The Centre’s policies are responsible for students losing jobs and closure of small, medium and large establishments,” he alleged.
On employment in Jharkhand, Soren claimed that during the BJP regime, people from other states secured jobs in the state, whereas under the current system, 75 to 100 per cent of selected candidates are locals.
The chief minister’s remarks came amid an ongoing student agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The recruitment examination controversy has triggered protests and political confrontation in the state, with students demanding reforms, transparency and investigations into alleged irregularities.
The Assembly was adjourned sine die on Tuesday, a day ahead of its scheduled conclusion on August 12.
