Jharkhand job scam: BJP demands CBI probe, lays siege to CM Hemant Soren’s residence
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, August 10: The BJP on Monday intensified its agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations,…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, August 10: The BJP on Monday intensified its agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations, laying siege to Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence and demanding a CBI probe into all recruitment-related cases. Led by state BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Aditya Sahu in the presence of Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, party leaders, MLAs and workers staged a massive protest, accusing the JMM-Congress government of jeopardising the future of the state’s youth.
The BJP’s protest came amid a 17-day-long student agitation in Ranchi, with hundreds of aspirants staging a sit-in and several continuing an indefinite hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Stadium. The students have been demanding a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC. The party said the government’s failure to address the students’ core demand had forced it to take the agitation to the Chief Minister’s doorstep.
BJP Leaders Stopped Outside CM’s Residence
According to the BJP, its leaders, including Marandi, Sahu, former BJP president Deepak Prakash, MLAs and senior office-bearers, were heading to the Chief Minister’s residence to seek a meeting and press for action on the students’ demands. However, police stopped them outside the residence.
The BJP leaders subsequently staged a sit-in at the gate of the Chief Minister’s residence. They were later detained and taken to Khelgaon, where other BJP leaders and legislators were also being kept.
Sahu accused the state government of adopting an “oppressive and dictatorial” approach towards democratic protests. He alleged that the manner in which BJP leaders were detained and taken away was a sign of the government’s unwillingness to listen to dissenting voices.
‘Lathi-Charge on Students Shameful’
Reacting to the police action against protesting students, Sahu termed the lathi-charge on unarmed aspirants “shameful” and a “dark chapter for democracy”.
He alleged that the government was attempting to suppress the students’ demands through force, pointing to the use of water cannons and lathi-charge during the students’ march towards the Legislative Assembly.
“The students’ demand is clear: a CBI inquiry into all examinations, action against the guilty and their imprisonment,” Sahu said, according to the party statement.
He also accused the government of ignoring the concerns of young people despite the prolonged agitation and hunger strike.
BJP Targets Recruitment Process
The BJP alleged that recruitment examinations across the state had been clouded by paper leaks, irregularities and other controversies. Sahu specifically referred to examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC, as well as CGL and Excise Constable recruitment.
The party alleged that government jobs were being “sold” and claimed that such practices had put the future of lakhs of aspirants at risk. These are political allegations by the BJP and have not been established in court.
Marandi echoed the demand for a CBI probe, saying all major recruitment controversies should be investigated by the central agency under court supervision. He referred to the JPSC, JSSC, CGL, Excise Constable and secondary school teacher recruitment processes and alleged that serious irregularities had occurred in each of them.
‘BJP Will Fight From Streets to Assembly’
Marandi said students had been demanding a CBI probe for more than 15 days and accused the government of using repeated rounds of talks to delay a resolution.
He said the BJP would continue its agitation “from the streets to the Assembly” until the students received justice. He also alleged that the government had failed to show sensitivity towards students whose health was deteriorating because of the prolonged protest and hunger strike.
The BJP leader termed the lathi-charge on students an act of “cruelty and barbarism”, asserting that every blow of the baton would further intensify public anger against the government.
Arjun Munda Backs Students’ Demand
Former Union minister and BJP leader Arjun Munda also condemned the use of force against protesting students. He said there was no place in a democracy for suppressing the voices of youth through barricading and lathi-charge.
Munda urged the state government to engage directly with student representatives, take time-bound decisions on their demands and order an impartial CBI inquiry into the recruitment controversy.
The BJP has now stepped up its campaign over the recruitment issue, linking its agitation directly with the students’ movement. With the Assembly session underway and BJP legislators detained during the protest, the recruitment controversy is set to become a major political flashpoint in Jharkhand.
