Jharkhand Student Protest: As the Jharkhand student protest enters its sixteenth day, agitator Vipin Kumar said that the protestors will organise a gherao at the Assembly on Monday if the Jharkhand government fails to issue notice on the cancellation of exams. Talks are scheduled to be held with the government at 12 pm regarding the same.
According to Kumar, a seven-member student delegation will hold discussions with the government. “We are firm on our demands. We demand a CBI inquiry into the 14th JPSC exam and the JSSC-CGL exam, and the cancellation of all examinations in which irregularities have been found," the student leader added.
'Is Govt Delaying Matter?'
Meanwhile, student protestors at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium alleged that the government was attempting to delay the matter by accepting memorandums from various organisations instead of directly addressing their demands.
They questioned the rationale for accepting memorandums from those organisations when the protesting students had already clearly stated their demands to the government.
Three students are still on a hunger strike at the protest site. The students also expressed concern about the deteriorating health of the fasting students. They said that one of the fasting students is in critical condition and is undergoing treatment in a hospital, facing a life-and-death situation.
Jairam Mahato Observes Nirjala Fast
On Sunday morning, Dumri MLA and JLKM MLA Jairam Mahto started observing a day-long no-water fast outside the Assembly premises. Mahto has appealed to all sections of society to join the fast.
The MLA has been highlighting the irregularities that have been uncovered in Jharkhand's competitive examinations, including practices such as seat selling, writing answer sheets at home, and leaving OMR sheets blank and filling them in later.
Meanwhile, Devendra Nath Mahato has been on a hunger strike for several days. On Saturday, talks were held between a five-member ministerial committee formed by the Hemant Soren government and the agitating student organisations, but the talks were completely inconclusive.
BJP Takes A Dig At State Govt
BJP state president Aditya Sahu criticised the state government, calling it “dogmatic”. Sahu said, "The situation of the students there is very dire. They are struggling for life and death. Why did this government allow this situation to arise in the state?"
"Rahul Gandhi was talking big, protesting outside the Prime Minister's residence, and here he is trying to reason with the students. A government supported by you is running in this state. You should talk to the government."
Sahu said that the students are demanding a CBI investigation because their futures have been compromised for the past six years. If a CBI investigation isn't conducted, the Congress should protest outside the Chief Minister's residence and tell him bluntly that if he doesn't meet the students' demands, they will withdraw their support.