What began as another day of political confrontation over Jharkhand’s recruitment exam protests escalated sharply on Tuesday when state minister Irfan Ansari alleged that a sit-in by BJP MLAs near Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence was not merely a protest but an “attempt to kill” the Chief Minister.
Ansari claimed Soren was inside the residence with his wife and children at the time and demanded strict action over the episode.
The allegation capped a turbulent day in Jharkhand politics, as the agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC-JSSC recruitment examinations played out simultaneously on the streets and inside the Assembly.
ASSEMBLY ADJOURNED A DAY EARLY
The Jharkhand Assembly was adjourned sine die on Tuesday, a day ahead of schedule, after repeated disruptions over police action against protesting job aspirants.
BJP MLAs entered the Well of the House and demanded answers from the government over the use of batons, tear gas and water cannons against students who had marched towards the Assembly a day earlier.
Amid the uproar, Chief Minister Hemant Soren defended his government’s handling of the agitation and said a CID probe into alleged recruitment irregularities was underway.
Soren said the government had accepted most of the reform proposals raised by students and was willing to make further changes to the recruitment system.
He also announced that examinations conducted by a Lucknow-based company would be investigated and said IIT experts would be consulted on improving the examination process.
The confrontation intensified after BJP legislators displayed currency notes inside the House in an attempt to link the recruitment irregularities to an alleged “cash-for-jobs” scam.
Soren hit back at the Opposition, accusing it of politicising the issue.
After his address, Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato adjourned the House sine die, saying he was doing so with a “heavy heart and pain”.
BJP BANDH OVER POLICE ACTION
Outside the Assembly, the BJP observed a statewide bandh over Monday’s police action against the protesters.
Normal life was affected in parts of Ranchi and other cities, with several schools and business establishments remaining closed and vehicular movement reduced.
BJP workers blocked roads and burnt tyres at some locations as the party accused the JMM-Congress government of using force instead of addressing the students’ grievances.
State BJP president Aditya Sahu demanded that JMM and Congress legislators resign on moral grounds and challenged Rahul Gandhi to come to Jharkhand, stage a sit-in outside Soren’s residence and press for a CBI probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities.
RAHUL GANDHI BECOMES POLITICAL FLASHPOINT
The agitation has also triggered a fresh political confrontation over Rahul Gandhi’s response to the protests.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju pointed out that Congress and JMM are governing partners in Jharkhand and said Gandhi should answer questions over the police action.
Ansari, however, defended the Congress leader, saying Gandhi had instructed the state leadership to engage peacefully with the protesting students.
He maintained that the government supported peaceful protests and accused the BJP of trying to hijack the agitation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, when asked whether the party leadership had spoken to Soren, said Congress leaders were in touch with the state government and described the Jharkhand agitation as an issue being dealt with separately.
JMM MP Vijay Hansdak also defended the government, saying criticism was welcome in a democracy but authorities were required to maintain law and order when protesters reached close to the Assembly complex.
STUDENTS CONTINUE STIR ON DAY 18
Away from the political exchanges, students continued their agitation for an 18th day on Tuesday.
In the evening, protesters under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch took out a silent procession from Jaipal Singh Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi.
The students and job aspirants have been protesting since July 25, demanding greater transparency in recruitment examinations, reforms in the functioning of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, cancellation of several examinations and an independent investigation.
They have sought either a CBI probe or an inquiry by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.
Six demonstrators have also been on an indefinite hunger strike, with two of them hospitalised.
Student leaders, meanwhile, have sought to keep the agitation independent of political parties.
Student leader Piyush said the protesters were not formally endorsing any particular party, although they welcomed support for their demands.
The sixth round of talks between the government and the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch on Sunday also failed to produce a breakthrough, with both sides accusing each other of not being serious enough about resolving the deadlock.
GOVT OPENS COMMUNICATION CHANNEL
The Soren government has simultaneously opened a consultation process with students under its “Chhatron Ki Baat, Chhatron Ke Saath” campaign.
More than 8,500 young people have submitted suggestions on reforms covering OMR sheets, examination calendars, scorecards, question papers, transparency and greater use of technology.
Soren has said the objective is to create a more transparent, fair, secure and accountable recruitment system with the participation of students.
But the confrontation remains unresolved.
DEADLOCK CONTINUES
Monday’s march towards the Assembly, during which thousands of aspirants breached barricades and clashed with police, hardened positions further. Police used water cannons and tear gas, while several protesters reported injuries and Ranchi Police said 14 personnel were hurt.
Meanwhile, the focus now returns to the central point of dispute: whether the government will agree to an independent probe acceptable to the protesters and how far it is prepared to go on their demands for cancellation of examinations and structural reforms.
Until that deadlock is broken, the JPSC-JSSC agitation is likely to remain at the centre of Jharkhand’s political battle.
– Ends
