A 10-member delegation of the students protesting against the alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams held talks with the state government
on Friday but said they would continue their agitation till all their demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC exam, are met. The students representing the JPSC-JSSC reforms manch, who held the first round of talks with the government representatives, said that they would march to the state assembly on August 10 if their demands are not met by Sunday. Reports also said that the students want to meet Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Briefing about the talks, a leader of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch told reporters, "The meeting with the Jharkhand government was held in a positive atmosphere. It assured us that our demands would be considered. However, we have decided to continue our protest till all our demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, are met." From the government's side, State Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the government was sensitive to the students' concerns and is ready to consider. "We met the delegation of student protesters. The government is sensitive to their demands and is ready to consider them sympathetically. The outcome will be visible soon," PTI quoted Kumar told reporters. Another state government Minister Dipika Pandey Singh said the panel has apprised Chief Minister Hemant Soren of the students' demands. "The CM is concerned about students and an outcome will come soon," she said.
Protesting Group Led By Devendra Mahto Receives Govt's Invitation For Talks
Meanwhile, another group of protesters led by Devendra Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past six days, claimed that it had received an invitation from the government for talks.
The Mahto-led group said it had submitted the names of an eight-member delegation to the government for discussions.
What Students Are Demanding
The protesters have been demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC exam and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities either by the CBI or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.
The protest over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examinations entered its 14th day on Friday, with six protesters continuing their hunger strike.
Earlier in the day, the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch submitted a fresh 10-member panel to the government after it objected to the earlier 11-member delegation, which included an advocate and two technical experts.
Members of the new delegation are student leaders Ravindra Paswan, Piyush Kumar, Rajesh Prasad, Neetu Kujur, Ankit Raj, Kartik Soren, Shalu Kumari, among others.
With inputs from PTI
