Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) general secretary and spokesperson Vinod Kumar Pandey on Saturday said the BJP had “no moral right” to question the Hemant Soren government over the ongoing controversy surrounding the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations.
Pandey said Chief Minister Hemant Soren was committed to ensuring justice for every section of society and would not allow anyone to compromise the future of the state’s youth.
He claimed that the government acted promptly after receiving complaints of irregularities in the JPSC examination process. According to him, an FIR was registered, an investigating agency was sent to the JPSC office, and the commission’s chairman and other officials were questioned. Several arrests have also been made, he said, claiming that the government was following a “zero-tolerance” policy towards corruption.
Pandey alleged that a “conspiracy” was being hatched under the cover of the JPSC controversy and claimed that those responsible for compromising students’ futures would soon be exposed.
He said the Hemant Soren government was committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and equal opportunities in recruitment and that no compromise would be made with the credibility of competitive examinations.
Targeting BJP, Pandey said JPSC examinations had remained embroiled in controversies and allegations of irregularities during successive BJP-led governments in Jharkhand.
He referred to the first combined civil services examination held during the tenure of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, claiming that questions had been raised over the evaluation process, alleged manipulation of answer sheets and the selection process. He also alleged that JPSC examinations held during the tenures of Arjun Munda and other BJP governments faced allegations of manipulation of answer sheets, mark inflation, favouritism and lack of transparency.
Pandey further alleged that the Raghubar Das government failed to implement a regular JPSC examination calendar, resulting in delays in recruitment and repeated dissatisfaction among aspirants over rules, cut-offs, results and appointment processes.
“Those who could not answer for the shortcomings of their own tenure are now lecturing others on transparency and accountability,” Pandey said, accusing the BJP of trying to gain political mileage from the concerns of students.
