New Delhi [India], August 10 (ANI): Union Minister Sanjay Seth on Monday slammed the Jharkhand government over the use of force against students protesting in Ranchi over irregularities in recruitment examinations, questioning the need for barricades fitted with blades and urging the state government to accept their demands.
Speaking to ANI, Seth said the demonstrators had remained disciplined and peaceful before the confrontation with police.
“From this morning, the students were very disciplined, there was no disturbance, no stone-pelting, yes, the Hemant government did try to stop them. Barbed wires with blades were installed there… What was the justification for installing blade-wired fences there? Fulfill the demands of the children,” Seth said.
He criticised the use of lathi charge against the protesters and accused the Jharkhand government of avoiding investigations sought by the students.
“You are resorting to lathi charge on your own children. We can certainly say that now every single person in Jharkhand will take to the streets. You are running away from CBI investigation, running away from ED investigation… You must immediately accept the demand for investigation into the students’ concerns,” the Union Minister said.
The remarks came after clashes broke out between student protesters and police during the ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ march near the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi. The protest was organised by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
Police used water cannons, tear gas shells and lathi charge after a large number of protesters attempted to move towards the Assembly. A student protester, Vikram Kumar, alleged that the protesters were demonstrating peacefully when police suddenly resorted to lathi charge.
Student leader Ravindra Paswan appealed for restraint and said the agitation would remain peaceful and constitutional.
“We are peaceful. Students are adamant about their issues. A few anti-social elements are attempting to take the protest in a different direction. But we, the students, are supporting our issue,” Paswan said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his response to the police action.
“Is Rahul Gandhi’s concern for students limited only to protests against the Central Government? Today, students in Jharkhand demanding fair examinations were met with lathis and water cannons. Will Rahul Gandhi condemn the police action by the government he supports? Are the students of Jharkhand any less deserving of justice? Student rights cannot depend on which party is in power. Justice cannot be selective,” Surya said in a post on X.
The protesting aspirants are demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process.
Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days, also joined the march and said the government would have to listen to the students’ demands.
Amid demands for a CBI investigation, the Enforcement Directorate has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the JPSC. (ANI)