3 weeks ago
Jharkhand job aspirants face water cannons, baton-charge in assembly march
Many people in the Indian state of Jharkhand want government jobs, but they believe some recruitment exams were unfair.
Thousands of job candidates marched to the state assembly building to complain about it.
Police used water cannons, tear gas and batons to stop them, and the march was halted near a temple.
The protest has now been going on for 17 days.
One leader, Devendra Nath Mahto, has been fasting for nine days and joined the march in an ambulance after losing 10.5 kg.
The government says it accepted 98 per cent of the demands, but protesters say only three of 13 exams have been cancelled.
The protesters want the CBI, a national investigation agency, or retired judges from outside the state to investigate the exams.
A former head of the exam commission was arrested, its three members resigned, and 19 people have been arrested in the case.
A big political party, the BJP, supported the students and blamed the Congress for double standards.
The protesters say they will keep protesting until they get an independent investigation.
Thousands of job aspirants marched to the Jharkhand assembly on the 17th day of their agitation and faced water cannons, tear gas and a police baton-charge after breaching multiple barricades.
The march began around 10.30 am from the old assembly complex in Dhurwa and was stopped near Jagannathpur Temple on the road to the new Vidhan Sabha building, coinciding with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday.
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, on a nine-day fast and having lost 10.5 kg, joined the march in an ambulance carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.
The government said it accepted 98 per cent of the demands, while protesters said only three of 13 exams were agreed to be cancelled and vowed not to compromise until a CBI probe is granted.
Former JPSC chairman L Khiangte was arrested, all three JPSC members resigned after CID summons, the ED began a probe under PMLA, and 19 people have been arrested; the BJP backed the agitation while accusing the Congress of double standards.
- Who
- Thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand, led by JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto and JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan, with BJP leaders including Babulal Marandi and Aditya Sahu backing the agitation
- What
- A 17-day-old agitation demanding cancellation of recruitment exams and an independent probe, during which a march to the state assembly was met with water cannons, tear gas and a baton-charge
- Where
- From the old assembly complex in Dhurwa towards the new Vidhan Sabha building in Ranchi, Jharkhand; halted near Jagannathpur Temple
- When
- Monday, August 10, with the march beginning around 10.30 am on the 17th day of the protest
- Why
- To demand cancellation of several recruitment examinations, comprehensive reforms in the JPSC and JSSC, and an independent probe by the CBI or retired high court judges from outside the state into alleged irregularities
Protesters' Position
Government's Position
Progress on demands
Protesters' Position
Protesters say only three of the 13 exams they wanted scrapped have been agreed to be cancelled and will not compromise until a CBI probe is granted.
Government's Position
The government says it accepted 98 per cent of the demonstrators' demands after several rounds of talks.
Investigation of irregularities
Protesters' Position
Protesters and the BJP demand an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state, saying the CID investigation is an eyewash.
Government's Position
The government has not agreed to a CBI probe; it proposed an ED probe under PMLA and a fast-track court to file charge sheets within 90 days.
Conduct of the protest
Protesters' Position
Protesters say they were marching peacefully when police used water cannons and batons against them; BJP leaders say they were detained without being allowed to meet the chief minister.
Government's Position
Police said the march was peaceful and they were exercising restraint; Chief Minister Hemant Soren said 'dialogue, not batons' can solve all problems and promised justice with full transparency.
Key facts
- Protest duration
- 17th day
- March route
- About 4 km, from the old assembly complex in Dhurwa to the new Vidhan Sabha building
- Security deployed
- More than 1,500 personnel from Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and QRT
- Demands accepted
- 98 per cent according to the government; protesters say only 3 of 13 exams were agreed to be cancelled
- Devendra Nath Mahto's fast
- 9 days, with 10.5 kg weight loss
- Arrests
- 19 people, including former JPSC chairman L Khiangte
- JPSC shake-up
- All three members (Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, Jamal Ahmad) resigned on Sunday
- ED action
- Cognisance of the CID FIR to investigate under the PMLA
Quotes
Chief Minister Hemant Soren
Jharkhand CM addressing protests
“Those who were trying till the end to politically hijack the students' movement in Delhi, who were restless, sometimes sitting in buses and sometimes taking out foot marches, where are those so‑called leaders now?”
telegraphindia.com
“We are protesting peacefully, and we urge everyone to help us maintain that peace. We are raising the voice of lakhs of students who are fighting for their dreams and careers... My health is failing.”
telegraphindia.com
Additional Director General (CID) Manoj Kaushik
CID official announcing the arrest
“We have arrested former JPSC chairperson L Khiangte in connection with irregularities in recruitment examinations.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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