Job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's public service examinations have announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren's official residence on August 20.
The protesters, who have been on an indefinite strike for 22 days, are seeking accountability over the alleged irregularities and have also called for the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and a CBI probe.
Protesters announce August 20 march
The announcement came on Saturday during a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ organised by students as part of their ongoing agitation.
Piyush Singh, spokesperson of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, said the protesters were now seeking the chief minister's resignation.
“This is the first time we are making this demand. It’s time that accountability must also be fixed for the scams”, Singh said.
He said the students had so far tried to pursue their demands through peaceful means but claimed that the government had not responded to their concerns.
“We have been pleading the government in a Gandhian way till now. But our demands have been falling on deaf ear. We are today announcing to gherao the chief minister residence on August 20. We are reiterating our demands to cancel JSSC -CGL exam and order CBI inquiry. If they don’t, we will march to the chief minister residence and keep sitting there until our demands are met,” Singh told reporters.
Students seek CBI probe into alleged irregularities
The protesters have been demanding an investigation by the CBI or a probe by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand into the alleged irregularities in the examinations.
Their demands include cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, along with an independent investigation into the allegations.
The students' agitation has now entered its 22nd day, with the protesters continuing their indefinite strike.
Demand Congress withdraw support from JMM-led government
The protesters have also called on the Congress to withdraw its support from the JMM-led coalition.
JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said the students would go ahead with the planned gherao if their demands were not addressed.
“We will gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him.”
Paswan also claimed that Rahul Gandhi had spoken to the protesters over the phone but said they now wanted concrete action.
“Rahul Gandhi spoke to us on phone. But such symbolisms won’t work anymore...”
The protesters have said they will continue their agitation until their demands are addressed.