Protests grow in Jharkhand over alleged exam irregularities
Hundreds of students and government job applicants are protesting in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. They are demanding
Hundreds of students and government job applicants are protesting in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. They are demanding that a preliminary civil service exam held in April be cancelled and conducted again, and that India's premier investigative agency investigate alleged malpractice in other state recruitment exams. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has said the allegations are being investigated and promised that students will get justice.
The protests have gained national attention after a much larger youth-led demonstration in Delhi over exam paper leaks led to the resignation of a federal minister last month. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) - not a political party, but a youth-led movement - which led the Delhi protests has announced its support to the protesters.
The protests in Jharkhand began on 25 July and intensified four days later when demonstrators gathered at a stadium in state capital Ranchi for an indefinite sit-in. They are demanding an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as well as a fast-track court
to hear cases linked to the alleged irregularities. A few of the protesters, including political activist Devendra Nath Mahto who contested the last state election with the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha party, have been on a hunger strike since Sunday in support of the demands.
The BriefWire