Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday invited protesting JPSC and JSSC aspirants for talks, saying the government was ready for dialogue and committed to introducing reforms to address long-standing concerns over recruitment examinations.
The offer came as protests by job aspirants continued at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Stadium, where candidates have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) and other recruitment bodies.
"We have already specified a channel of communication. We are ready to talk. The government is keen to understand the issues faced by every student," Soren said, adding that the administration wanted to carry the conversation beyond the protest venue and work towards "robust reforms" that align with students' aspirations.
The agitation has gained political traction over the past few days, with Opposition leaders and student organisations extending support to the protesters. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the aspirants over the phone on Thursday, while All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora joined the protest on Friday.
Also read: J'khand students agree to talks with govt, demand media presence
The protesters, however, remained wary of the government's outreach. Members of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch said an 11-member delegation had been constituted to represent the aspirants in discussions with the government. The delegation comprises eight student representatives, one lawyer and two technical experts.
Student leaders also reiterated their demand that any negotiations be conducted in the presence of the media to ensure transparency. They alleged that during an earlier round of discussions, representatives were taken into a closed room and no outcome emerged.
"We want the Chief Minister to speak with us publicly in front of the media. Calling only a small delegation behind closed doors will only delay and weaken the movement," one protester said.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) MLA Jairam Mahato demanded a broader investigation into the recruitment process. Referring to the JPSC preliminary examination, he alleged that a candidate who secured the second rank in the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, along with several family members, had cleared recruitment tests, and called for an inquiry into all examinations in which the candidate had appeared, as well as the agency that conducted them.
The protests have intensified pressure on the state government as aspirants continue to seek a credible probe into the alleged irregularities and structural reforms in the recruitment process.
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