Ranchi, Sep 8 (IANS) The BJP on Tuesday launched a statewide agitation in Jharkhand against alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations and the registration of cases against protesting students.
Party workers staged demonstrations and laid siege to administrative offices and district headquarters in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Dumka, Jamshedpur and Garhwa, among other districts.
They demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and the withdrawal of cases filed against agitating students.
In Ranchi, BJP workers took out a procession from District School via Shaheed Chowk to the district collectorate, raising slogans against the state government along the route.
The protest, led by state BJP president Aditya Sahu, was attended by several senior leaders, including Hatia MLA Naveen Jaiswal, Ranchi MLA C.P. Singh, former MP Deepak Prakash, and Ranchi Mayor Roshni Khalkho.
Addressing protesters outside the collectorate, Aditya Sahu said the BJP has always stood with students and youth movements. He alleged that the government targeted students who raised their voice against examination irregularities and registered cases against them.
He reiterated the party’s demand for a CBI investigation into the matter and the immediate withdrawal of all cases filed against students.
Sahu announced that the BJP’s agitation would continue across all districts of Jharkhand until September 11.
In Dumka, BJP workers held a demonstration under the leadership of Babulal Marandi, the Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly.
Addressing a public meeting, Marandi demanded a CBI probe into all recruitments made in Jharkhand over the past five to six years.
He alleged that the government had “sold jobs instead of providing employment” and said cases had been lodged against students despite their protests remaining peaceful.
Marandi claimed that chargesheets had not yet been filed in several cases related to recruitment irregularities and alleged that a network of middlemen was involved in the process.
He also questioned the impartiality of the ongoing CID investigation.
In Hazaribagh, BJP workers and student supporters, led by former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, laid siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Das said filing cases against students peacefully protesting for their demands amounted to suppressing their democratic rights.
Stressing that competitive examinations are closely linked to the future and aspirations of young people, he called for transparency in the recruitment process and warned that any compromise with the future of the youth would not be tolerated.
BJP leaders claimed that more than 300 students associated with the agitation had been booked and demanded that all such cases be withdrawn immediately.
In Garhwa, former Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth addressed a public meeting at the Town Hall ground after leading a protest at the district headquarters.
He demanded a CBI enquiry into JPSC and JSSC recruitments, withdrawal of cases registered against students, and action over alleged police excesses during protests.
Accusing the state government of jeopardising the future of the youth instead of generating employment opportunities, Seth said the BJP would continue its fight for justice for students and young people both on the streets and inside the legislature.
MLA Satyendra Nath Tiwari and a large number of BJP workers and youth supporters were also present at the programme.
–IANS
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