Jharkhand holds talks with student protesters, says it will consider demands

The Jharkhand government on Friday held talks with representatives of students protesting in Ranchi against the alleged irregularities in the conduct of competitive examinations for government jobs, The Hindu reported.

The meeting between the student organisation JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch and the government delegation, which included four ministers, ended without an agreement.

These were the first talks between the students and the government after two weeks of protests.

The protests in Jharkhand began on July 25, inspired by the agitation across the country against the alleged mismanagement of national competitive exams. The protesters have been holding a sit-in at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, with six demonstrators on fast.

The protesters have demanded the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Preliminary Test held on April 19.

They have also sought inquiries by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.

After the talks on Friday, student leader Ravindra Paswan said that the government had listened to the protesters’ demands, The Hindu reported.

No specific assurances were given, The Indian Express quoted Binay Kumar, one of the organisers of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, as saying.

The students said that they will continue their protest until their demands are met.

State Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said...

Read more