Jharkhand students protesting against alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations will hold another round of talks with the representatives of state government in Ranchi today. The government panel held a meeting with Chief Minister Hemant Soren and briefed him on the progress made during the first round of dialogue with the students.

 

The first round of high-level talks between the government and different groups of protesting students was held yesterday at the State Guest House in Ranchi in a positive atmosphere. Government representatives said they were committed to comprehensive reforms in the examination system. The government has also issued an official feedback email ID through which students and other stakeholders can submit their suggestions.

 

Meanwhile, student leader Ravindra Paswan said the students have been on an indefinite sit-in for the past 15 days and had placed their demands before the government in detail. These include cancellation of specific examinations, a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities and comprehensive reforms in the recruitment process. Paswan alleged that the government was attempting to fragment the student movement by holding separate consultations with different organisations.

 

He said the protesting students remained united and warned that if their demands were not accepted, 50,000 to one lakh students from across Jharkhand could participate in the proposed Vidhan Sabha March on August 10. Meanwhile, students in Ranchi also staged a flashlight protest demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the JPSC-JSSC examinations yesterday evening. The students have said that their movement will continue until concrete action is taken on their demands.