Ranchi, August 15: Thousands of students and government-job aspirants on Saturday took out a Tiranga Yatra in Ranchi as their protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 22nd day.
The march began from the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and concluded at Albert Ekka Chowk, with participants carrying the national flag and raising patriotic slogans.The protesters, under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, have been seeking greater transparency in the recruitment process. Among their demands are the cancellation of certain examinations and an independent inquiry into the alleged irregularities by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from outside the state.
The agitation also witnessed a controversy involving Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike.Mahto, who was admitted to Sadar Hospital after his health condition deteriorated, alleged that police prevented him from leaving the hospital to participate in the Tiranga Yatra and hoist the national flag at the protest site.
According to Mahto, an argument broke out when he attempted to leave the hospital and he was pushed by security personnel. He also claimed to have suffered an injury to his chest during the incident.Videos purportedly showing a confrontation between Mahto and security personnel circulated on social media. The circumstances depicted in the footage could not be independently verified.Following the incident, Mahto reportedly staged a sit-in outside his hospital room and declined medical treatment.
He maintained that his protest was aimed at seeking justice and protecting the interests of students and job aspirants.The protesters said their movement was about more than recruitment examinations, linking their demands to equal opportunity, transparency and accountability. They argued that Independence should also mean freedom from corruption and injustice.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, in his Independence Day address, assured Jharkhand’s youth that their efforts to secure employment would not be undermined by corruption, examination mafias or irregularities.
Soren acknowledged concerns surrounding recent recruitment examinations and said such controversies could undermine the confidence of an entire generation of students.He said the government was committed to strengthening the recruitment system and ensuring that young people received fair opportunities.
The chief minister also stressed that students and their families make considerable sacrifices while preparing for competitive examinations and that it was the government’s responsibility to protect their interests and uphold fairness in the recruitment process.The developments come amid continuing demands for reforms in Jharkhand’s examination system, with job aspirants pressing for greater transparency and accountability in government recruitment.
