Surendra Soren
Ranchi
The ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment processes entered a crucial phase on Friday as a delegation of students held detailed talks with state ministers, while simultaneously setting August 10 as the deadline for the government to take concrete action on their demands.
Following the meeting, student representatives said the ministers listened patiently to their concerns, acknowledged that the issues raised were genuine, and assured them that every demand and supporting document would be placed before Chief Minister Hemant Soren for serious consideration.
According to the delegation, the ministers observed that the matter was not confined to the interests of the current batch of aspirants but was intrinsically linked to the future of coming generations, assuring them that the government would deal with the issue sensitively.
Despite welcoming the government’s assurance, the protesting students maintained that verbal commitments alone would not be enough. They insisted that all major issues related to the JPSC and JSSC recruitment processes must be resolved through concrete decisions by August 10, warning that failure to do so would lead to their proposed Assembly gherao as scheduled.
The students reiterated that their protest would remain peaceful and democratic but would witness large-scale participation. They also asserted that the agitation would continue until all their key demands—including cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination, a CBI probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities, and comprehensive reforms in the state’s recruitment system—are addressed.
The talks were held after the students reconstituted their negotiation panel in response to objections raised by the state government over the composition of the original delegation. The newly formed 10-member delegation, comprising only student representatives, includes Rabindra Paswan, Piyush Kumar, Rajesh Prasad, Neetu Kujur, Ankit Raj, Kartik Soren, Shalu Kumari, Ravindra Kumar Ravi, Anand Kumar and Ankit Kumar.
The state government was represented during the discussions by ministers Sudivya Kumar, Chamra Linda, Deepika Pandey Singh and Sanjay Prasad, while Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar facilitated the negotiations.
The restructuring of the delegation followed objections from Urban Development Minister Sudivya Kumar, who had opposed the inclusion of the state’s former Advocate General in the students’ panel. During the Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly, the minister alleged that the agitation was being influenced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the “coaching mafia,” urging students to keep their movement free from political interference. He, however, reiterated the government’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of genuine aspirants.
With the first formal round of talks now concluded, attention has shifted to the government’s next move. As the August 10 deadline approaches, the administration faces mounting pressure to translate its assurances into tangible decisions, while student organisations have made it clear that the future course of the agitation will depend on the government’s response.
