Surendra Soren
Ranchi
The Jharkhand government today offered to hold talks with students protesting against alleged irregularities in the JPSC-JSSC recruitment process and has constituted a high-level committee comprising four ministers to initiate dialogue with the protesters.
The committee includes Deepika Pandey Singh from the Congress, Chamra Linda and Sudivya Kumar Sonu from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Sanjay Prasad Yadav from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar, who is also the Health Department Secretary, has been included in the committee to facilitate and oversee its proceedings.
The government has also asked the protesting students to nominate five representatives to engage with the committee. The students, however, have rejected the proposal to form a delegation.
Earlier, Ranchi administration officials, including the SDM and ADM (Law and Order), visited the protest site and conveyed the government’s willingness to hold talks. They asked the students to constitute a representative delegation that could meet members of the government-appointed committee.
The protesters rejected the proposal, saying they would not hold discussions behind closed doors. They insisted that any dialogue with the government must take place on an open platform, in the presence of the media and before the public.
The students said they have complete faith in one another but would not agree to a closed-door meeting. They also demanded that the entire proceedings be recorded on CCTV cameras.
“No delegation will be formed from our side. Whenever talks take place, they will be held openly and in the presence of everyone and the media,” the protesters said.
No date or time has been officially fixed for the proposed talks. However, discussions are likely to be held on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikaro Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto today took water after having a telephonic conversation with Sonak Wangchuk. He said his indefinite fast will continue till the demands of the students are met. He also announced an Assembly March to be organised on August 10.
