Jharkhand Recruitment Row: ‘Decisions at appropriate time’: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren breaks silence on recruitment row amid protests | India News
NEW DELHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday broke his silence on the ongoing recruitment row, saying his government was examining the concerns of protesting job aspirants with “complete seriousness” and that decisions would be taken “at the appropriate time” after all aspects of the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations were scrutinised.The assurance came as hundreds of job aspirants, who have been holding an indefinite sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi since July 29, intensified their agitation by demanding that the alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and other recruitment examinations be investigated by an independent panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.“With close scrutiny and complete seriousness, decisions addressing their demands and queries will be announced at the appropriate time. I am confident that the protesters will be reassured,” Soren told reporters in Ranchi, as per news agency PTI.
Soren says probe is examining every aspect
Responding to questions about the ongoing investigation, the chief minister said probe agencies were looking into every allegation related to the recruitment examinations.“The way the investigation team is active, wherever any kind of mistakes have happened or are happening, all those things are being thoroughly examined, and after everything comes out, the government’s decisions will also certainly come forward,” he said.The protesters, however, alleged that the JMM-led government was attempting to “whitewash” the issue by entrusting the investigation to the state CID. They had earlier demanded a CBI probe along with an investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), claiming large-scale financial transactions were linked to the alleged recruitment scam.On Tuesday, they revised their demand, seeking an inquiry by an independent panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.“We have completely lost faith in the ongoing CID investigation,” job aspirant Vinay Mehta from Hazaribagh told PTI.He alleged that during the earlier JSSC-CGL paper leak investigation, the CID itself found that answers to 135 out of 150 questions had been leaked, with 120 questions matching the examination paper exactly, but claimed no meaningful action followed despite candidates submitting evidence.“Therefore, we demand that the investigation be handed over either to the CBI or to an independent body of retired High Court judges, excluding any judge from Jharkhand,” Mehta said.
Raghubar Das backs CBI probe, urges talks with students
Former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das also urged Soren to engage directly with the protesting students and consider their demand for a CBI investigation.Addressing a press conference in Jamshedpur, Das said he had written to the chief minister, requesting him to initiate dialogue with the agitating youths.“The students have not taken to the streets without reason. They are protesting against serious allegations of corruption and irregularities in recruitment examinations. The government should talk to them directly and ensure justice, including considering their demand for a CBI inquiry,” Das said.He said he had written the letter not as a former chief minister or with any political motive, but as someone who understood student movements, recalling that his own political journey began during the JP movement of 1974.Das also alleged that the protesting students were not being provided basic facilities such as tents, drinking water or healthcare despite their peaceful agitation. He warned that the protest could turn into a larger mass movement if the government failed to address their grievances.Drawing a comparison with the NEET paper leak case, Das said the Centre had acted swiftly by cancelling the examination, ordering a CBI probe and conducting a re-examination within days.He questioned why a similar approach was not being adopted in Jharkhand.
Protest enters second week
The indefinite sit-in by job aspirants entered its second week on Tuesday, with protesters reiterating that they would continue their peaceful agitation unless an independent probe was ordered.The protesters also announced that they would pay tribute to former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren on his first death anniversary by marching to his residence.They have also warned of intensifying the agitation if their demands remain unmet, including a proposed gherao of the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10.The movement has received support from several organisations. On Monday, the state unit of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) staged a demonstration over the alleged recruitment scams and announced an Assembly march on August 7.On Sunday, the Cockroach Janta Party also extended support to the agitation, while one of the protest leaders, Devendra Nath Mahto, has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Sunday night, demanding a central agency probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities.
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Meanwhile, JMM MLA Kalpana Soren, wife of chief minister Hemant Soren, has said the state government is “very sensitive” to the concerns raised by the protesters and is working on ways to resolve the issue.
CID investigation gathers pace
The CID has so far arrested 11 people in connection with the alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.The commission has postponed the Combined Civil Services Mains Examination, which was originally scheduled from July 25 to 27, citing “unavoidable circumstances” amid mounting protests.The CID has also questioned former JPSC chairman L Khiangte four times since July 28 and conducted raids at 18 locations across Ranchi, Palamu, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Dhanbad as part of its investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities.
