Jharkhand protesting students, govt meet in 1st round of talks; stir to continue
The first round of talks between the Jharkhand government and students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations ended on a positive note on Friday, but
The first round of talks between the Jharkhand government and students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations ended on a positive note on Friday, but failed to break the deadlock, with protesters vowing to continue their agitation until their demands, including cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination, are met. The students also said they would go ahead with their planned march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 if the government failed to provide concrete assurances by Sunday. Read Full Story The meeting was held between a 10-member delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch and a government panel headed by Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar. The talks came after the protesters submitted a revised delegation list, replacing an earlier 11-member panel that the government had objected to because it included an advocate. After the meeting, JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch core committee member Ravindra Paswan said the discussions were positive but the protesters were still waiting for a clear assurance from the government. "We met the government. The meeting was positive. We want an assurance, and they will convey our message to the chief minister. We will meet again soon," Paswan said. He added that the protest march would continue for now, but the students could reconsider their plan to march to the Assembly on August 10 if they received a positive response from the government. The students are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and an independent probe into alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protesting students are also seeking comprehensive reforms in the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). After the talks, Jharkhand Education Minister said the government was sensitive to the students' concerns and would consider their demands sympathetically. "We met the students' delegation and are sensitive to their concerns. We are ready to consider their demands sympathetically, and the outcome will be visible soon," he told reporters. Minister Dipika Pandey Singh said the students' demands had been conveyed to Chief Minister Hemant Soren. "The chief minister is concerned about students and an outcome will come soon," she said. Soren had earlier said his government was ready for dialogue with the protesters and that students were welcome to raise their grievances. "We are ready to hold talks. Every student in the state is welcome to place their grievances before us. We will move ahead with strong reforms in line with students' demands," he had said. HUNGER STRIKE CONTINUES The agitation, which began on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, entered its 15th day on Saturday, with several students sitting on an indefinite hunger strike. Concerns over the health of protesters intensified after student leader Rahul Kranti, one of six people on hunger strike, was admitted to a hospital after his condition deteriorated. Kranti had been fasting since Tuesday night. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi visited Kranti at the hospital and appealed to the students not to risk their lives, saying they had a long battle ahead.
The BriefWire