Jharkhand Govt holds first formal talks with protesting students’ over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams

The first formal talks between the Jharkhand Government and the students’ delegation were held late yesterday evening amid ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations. Meanwhile, the investigation into the matter and political activities surrounding the issue have also gathered pace.

Akashvani correspondent reports that the first formal meeting between the Jharkhand Government and a ten-member delegation of agitating students was held last evening over the alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations.

During the nearly one-and-a-half-hour meeting, the students reiterated their demands for transparency in the recruitment examinations, an impartial probe into the alleged irregularities, and comprehensive reforms in the recruitment process.

Four State Ministers and the Development Commissioner represented the government in the talks. The Ministers said the government would take positive steps on the students’ demands and assured them that all issues raised during the meeting would be placed before the Chief Minister.

The students described the talks as positive but said their sit-in protest and hunger strike would continue until a written decision is taken and concrete action is initiated on their demands. They also said that if no satisfactory decision is taken by August 10th, they will go ahead with their proposed Assembly gherao.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the government is sensitive to the concerns of the students and is committed to resolving the issue through dialogue. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said that if no concrete decision is taken by August 13th, efforts would be intensified to seek a CBI probe into the matter.

Meanwhile, the CID, which is investigating the alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination, has issued summons to three serving members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission for questioning. The CID has already arrested nineteen persons in connection with the case, and the scope of the investigation continues to expand.