Jharkhand govt to hold fresh talks with students protesting job exam 'irregularities' tomorrow

The Jharkhand government will hold a sixth round of talks with students protesting alleged irregularities in state examinations before taking a final decision, a member of the government panel tasked with holding dialogue with the demonstrators said. The talks are scheduled to be held around 12 pm on Sunday, after the panel held a four-hour meeting with Chief Minister Hemant Soren and apprised him of the progress made during the previous five rounds of discussions with the protesters. “We apprised the chief minister of students' views and demands that came to the fore during the meetings with delegations of student unions today and the day before,” Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh, a member of the panel, told PTI. “It was decided in the meeting with the chief minister that a final round of talks with the protesting students will take place at 12 pm on Sunday,” she added.

Ministers brief Hemant Soren

Another panel member, Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, said the meeting at the chief minister's residence decided to hold further discussions with the agitators, who are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Besides Singh and Yadav, Ministers Chamra Linda and Sudivya Kumar were present at the meeting.

Students seek independent probe

At the heart of the job aspirants' protest is their demand for an independent investigation into the alleged examination irregularities. The protesters have sought either a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe or an inquiry by a panel comprising retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand. The Jharkhand government has held five rounds of talks with various protesting groups since Friday night. However, the discussions have failed to break the deadlock, with the job aspirants deciding to continue their agitation until all their demands are met.

Protester's fast enters seventh day

The government panel first met a faction of protesters led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, whose fast over the issue entered its seventh day. The ministers subsequently held separate meetings with delegations of the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI), ACS and JCM. On Friday night, the government had held similar talks with a delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch.

19 arrested over alleged irregularities

As many as 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the JPSC examinations. Former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte has also been questioned four times since July 28 as authorities investigate the allegations surrounding the examinations.