Ranchi, August 17: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to personally meet students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, as the agitation in Ranchi entered its 24th day on Monday.
In a letter dated August 14 and released on Monday, Gandhi described the protest as peaceful and the students’ demands as legitimate. He welcomed the state government’s decision to engage with the protesters but said a direct meeting with Soren could help resolve the issues that remain unresolved.
Gandhi said the Congress supported students protesting alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities and stressed that the right to peaceful protest was a fundamental part of democracy. He urged Soren to meet representatives of the protesting students, noting that some aspirants remained on an indefinite hunger strike.
Thousands of job aspirants have been staging a sit-in at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi since July 29 under the leadership of student activist Devendra Nath Mahto. They have alleged irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination, the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level examination and other recruitment tests.
The protesters have demanded cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and an independent probe by either the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.
They have also alleged that examination seats were sold to candidates, including those from outside the state, for Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. The allegations have raised concerns among aspirants over transparency and fairness in the recruitment process.
