Jharkhand Protest March, Police Action, CM’s Birthday: What Unfolded Inside the Assembly in Ranchi

Jharkhand Protest March: Jharkhand job aspirants intensified their agitation over alleged recruitment exam irregularities as government efforts to resolve the dispute faced fresh hurdles.

By Pranjal Gupta

New Delhi, August 10: Thousands of job aspirants began their march to the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha in Ranchi Monday morning, but faced strict police action soon after reaching the final barricade near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Assembly Complex. Officials used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Several videos also emerged on social media showing police personnel resorting to a lathi charge against student protesters.

The 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' was called by job aspirants and student bodies in Jharkhand to protest alleged widespread irregularities, paper leaks and a lack of transparency in state recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

When asked about the lathi charge, Gaurav Goswami, SP Rural, Ranchi, told news agency ANI, "Mild lathi charge was used when some of them attempted to reach the last barricading where Section 163 is already in effect. Minimum use of lathi was done. We are speaking with the students continuously. They are peaceful right now, and we are engaging with them continuously. The students have agreed with us to stop here for some time."

However, the protestors condemned the police brutality, alleging them of barbaric behaviour.

The march, which coincided with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, began from outside the old assembly building around 10.30 am as the protest over the recruitment exam irregularities entered the 17th day.

Jharkhand Protest March: Jharkhand job aspirants intensified their agitation over alleged recruitment exam irregularities as government efforts to resolve the dispute faced fresh hurdles.

Despite being on hunger strike for nine days, JLKM (Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha) leader Devendra Nath Mahato joined the student protestors in the rally to the Vidhan Sabha.

Scene Inside Jharkhand Assembly

Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato on Monday questioned the absence of BJP legislators from the House, saying that raising queries and then not attending the proceedings was "not considered good practice in the parliamentary system".

As the House assembled at 11 am on the third day of the Monsoon Session, Mahato called out the names of BJP MLAs Nagendra Mahto, Chandreswar Prasad Singh and Raj Sinha to raise their queries during Question Hour.

However, when there was no response from the legislators, the Speaker remarked, "Raising questions in the House and then not attending the proceedings is not considered good practice in the parliamentary system."

Later, Ranchi MLA Singh said circumstances arising from the protests over alleged recruitment examination irregularities had compelled them to remain absent from the Assembly.

 Inside the chamber, opposition MLAs (primarily from the BJP) raised loud protests over the JPSC-JSSC exam controversy, backing the students' demands.

Talks Between Government and Protesters

So far, the Hemant Soren government has held a couple of rounds of talks with the protesting leaders.

During extended discussions led by a four-member ministerial committee, including Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar and Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, the government accepted several key demands.

Cancelled the 14th JPSC Examination: The government agreed to scrap the 14th JPSC Preliminary Civil Services Examination and the backlog examinations from 2023 and 2025.

ED and CID Probe Ordered: The government announced a CID investigation into criminal allegations and recommended an Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into alleged financial irregularities.

Judicial Probe and Fast-Track Court: The government offered to set up a judicial committee headed by a retired judge to look into the JSSC-CGL examination and establish a fast-track court to file charge sheets within 90 days.

JPSC Resignations: Following government pressure and CID summons, three serving members of the JPSC resigned.

Why Talks Stalled

Despite the government claiming that it had accepted "98 per cent of the demands", negotiations broke down over two key issues.

Refusal of CBI Probe: The government stated that it lacked the jurisdiction to hand over the JSSC-CGL examination probe to the CBI without court orders. It instead offered a judicial or CID probe.

JSSC-CGL Cancellation: Student leaders insisted on the immediate cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and the blacklisting of the vendor agency before any investigation could begin.

(With Agency Inputs)