Daijiworld Media Network - Ranchi
Ranchi, Aug 9: The second round of talks between the Jharkhand government and student representatives protesting alleged irregularities in government recruitment examinations ended without a breakthrough on Saturday, prolonging the agitation over the issue.
The students, however, said the government had heard their demands and that they would wait for the issues to be placed before Chief Minister Hemant Soren before deciding whether to withdraw their hunger strike.
The controversy began after the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) declared the preliminary results of the 14th Combined Civil Services Examination on July 2. The commission shortlisted 2,204 candidates for 103 vacancies, while around 3.5 lakh candidates had appeared for the examination. Allegations of irregularities, including a possible paper leak, subsequently triggered protests.
The Soren government has said action has been taken in the matter, with 19 people arrested so far. However, the protests have continued.
On Saturday, an eight-member delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch travelled from the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi to a guesthouse in Morabadi for talks with government representatives. The meeting began around 11.30 am.
The delegation reiterated demands raised by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, which had held talks with the government on Friday night. Saturday's meeting also included additional demands concerning candidates appearing for various recruitment examinations, including the TGT and other teacher recruitment tests.
The government was represented by Sudivya Kumar Sonu of the JMM, Chamra Linda of the JMM, Deepika Singh Pandey of the Congress and Sanjay Yadav of the RJD.
After the meeting, Sonu appealed to students and candidates to submit their suggestions and concerns through a dedicated email so that the government could examine them.
Student representative Chandan Rajak said the demands would now be taken up with Chief Minister Soren. He said the students would decide whether to end their hunger strike and agitation only after a decision was taken.
Meanwhile, the number of protesters at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium continued to increase. Two students on hunger strike were shifted to Sadar Hospital after their health deteriorated, while several other protesters were also reported to be unwell.
Student groups have announced plans to march towards the Jharkhand Assembly and stage a gherao on August 10.
The agitation has received support from the Cockroach Janta Party, which had spearheaded protests at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Singer-actor Piyush Mishra also visited the protest site on Saturday to extend his support.
Student wings of political parties have also joined the agitation. The ABVP clashed with police on Friday, while the AISA organised a march in Ranchi.
The ruling JMM's student wing, Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha, has submitted five demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination. The NSUI has put forward six demands, including a CID investigation into all JPSC and JSSC examinations under suspicion within 90 days and the creation of a Jharkhand Testing Agency on the lines of the National Testing Agency.
The Adivasi Chatra Sangh has demanded that tribal and regional languages be included as qualifying papers in recruitment examinations.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, associated with Jairam Mahato's JLKM and among those observing the hunger strike, said the primary demand was the immediate cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and all examinations conducted by the agency.
He said the demands raised on Saturday were largely the same as those discussed during the previous round of talks and that the agitation would continue until the government took concrete action.