Don’t become govt puppets: Babulal Marandi demands FIR against JMM workers
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, August 25: Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Tuesday warned government officials against acting under political pressure…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, August 25: Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Tuesday warned government officials against acting under political pressure and demanded an FIR against those allegedly involved in disrupting a students’ protest during an effigy-burning programme in Ranchi.
Marandi, accompanied by BJP leaders and hundreds of party workers, visited the office of the Ranchi Sadar Circle Officer (CO), who also served as the magistrate during the programme, and sought what he described as impartial action in the case.
‘Officials Should Not Become Government Puppets’
Marandi accused the administration of taking unilateral action against students who have been protesting alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations.
“Officials should not become government puppets. They must act in accordance with the law,” Marandi said.
He alleged that while cases were being filed against students, no FIR had been registered against those who allegedly disrupted the students’ programme and misbehaved with female students.
“We have come here to remind such officials of their responsibilities,” he said.
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Demands FIR Against JMM Workers
Marandi alleged that the students had been peacefully burning an effigy as part of a pre-announced programme when the incident occurred.
He claimed that members of the JMM had created a disturbance at the spot, following which action was taken against the protesting students instead of those allegedly responsible for the disruption.
The BJP leader demanded that the magistrate-cum-CO take impartial action and register an FIR against those allegedly involved.
“If the magistrate does not register an FIR against those goons, we will soon stage a sit-in protest outside his office,” Marandi said.
‘Videos Provide Evidence of What Happened’
Marandi said videos and other material available on social media could help establish who was responsible for the alleged disturbance.
“The magistrate should have acted impartially and registered an FIR against the actual perpetrators of the hooliganism, but he failed to do so,” he said.
He alleged that the magistrate appeared to be acting under government pressure and reiterated that administrative officials should perform their duties independently and in accordance with the law.
Marandi also alleged that CID officer-in-charge Manoj Kaushik operates from the SP’s office, citing it as an example of what he described as undue government influence over officials.
BJP Had Issued August 24 Warning
Marandi had warned on August 24 that if an FIR was not registered against those allegedly involved in the incident, he would visit the concerned magistrate’s office on August 25 and demand impartial action.
He followed through on the warning by visiting the Ranchi Sadar CO’s office on Tuesday.
The BJP has been supporting students protesting alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC-CGL examinations and has accused the State government of failing to address their concerns.
Hundreds of BJP workers, including Deepak Prakash, C. P. Singh, Yogendra Pratap Singh and Varun Sahu, were present during Marandi’s visit.


