PNS
Ranchi
The Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) has announced a statewide candlelight march and satyagraha to be held on July 25 across all district headquarters in protest against alleged irregularities in national examinations and the treatment of students protesting against them.
The programme has been scheduled following directions issued by All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge and the party’s General Secretary (Organisation), K.C. Venugopal. The state-level programme will be organised under the guidance of JPCC President Keshav Mahato Kamlesh.
Addressing the media, JPCC Media In-charge Rakesh Sinha alleged that the future of millions of students has been jeopardised due to the Centre’s handling of the examination system. He claimed that the alleged irregularities in the NEET and CBSE examinations had eroded the confidence of students and parents, while students raising their concerns democratically were being subjected to repression.
“The Congress Party stands firmly with students in their fight for justice. Candlelight marches will be taken out under the leadership of district Congress committees to the statues of Mahatma Gandhi or Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, where participants will observe a satyagraha in solidarity with students,” Sinha said.
Demanding accountability, he said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign, alleging that the repeated controversies surrounding the examination system reflected a failure to safeguard the future of the country’s youth.
Sinha said the campaign would witness the participation of Pradesh Congress leaders, district and block Congress committees, frontal organisations, party workers, students, youth, parents and members of civil society.
Describing the programme as more than a political protest, he said it was a collective resolve to protect the future of India’s youth. He also asserted that the Congress would continue to oppose, through democratic means, any attempt to suppress students’ voices or misuse government machinery against peaceful protesters.
The party has appealed to its workers and supporters across Jharkhand to participate in large numbers and make the statewide candlelight march and satyagraha a success.
