Amid the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, leaders from various political parties on Monday expressed their views on the agitation. While BJP and Janata Dal (United) leaders voiced support for the students' concerns and called for more talks, Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders accused the BJP of attempting to derive political benefit from the situation and stated that 98 per cent of the demands of the students have been accepted by the state government.

Speaking to IANS, JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan alleged that the Jharkhand government had initially tried to suppress the students' movement.

"The Jharkhand government wanted to suppress the students, but the students understood its intentions. The government cancelled examinations and accepted the resignations of JPSC members. These actions themselves indicate that irregularities and fraud had taken place in the examinations, which compelled the government to take such major decisions," he said.

JD(U) National General Secretary Shyam Rajak stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving the issue.

"I had earlier spoken about the need for dialogue, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren also acknowledged this. Discussions were held on various issues, and certain decisions were reached. However, some political leaders are trying to take advantage of the situation and mislead students. I hope students do not get influenced by such attempts," Rajak said.

(IANS)

BJP leaders staged a protest outside Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence here on Monday, demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state.

At the sit-in led by the party's state unit chief Aditya Sahu and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, the protesters were seen raising slogans and holding up placards with demands such as "stop playing with students' future" and "recommend a CBI probe into irregularities in JPSC examination".

A police official said several BJP leaders, including Sahu and Marandi, have been detained.

On the other hand, BJP's Jharkhand unit spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo says he and several other leaders were under "house arrest" since 7 am.

(PTI)

 BJP's Jharkhand unit spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo says he, several other leaders are under house arrest since 7 am. 

(PTI)

Students are set to stage a Vidhan Sabha Gherao in Ranchi today, continuing their protest against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations.

Students are expected to start assembling from 10 am, with the march scheduled to begin at 11 am from the old Legislative Assembly in Jagannathpur and proceed towards the state Assembly.

Security has been stepped up across the city ahead of the march. Authorities have installed razor fencing along parts of the route near Jagannath Temple, while Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) remains in force within a 750-metre radius of the state Assembly.

The protesting aspirants say their main demands, including the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a probe into the alleged irregularities and changes to the recruitment process, remain unresolved.

(PTI)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has entered the investigation into alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission's (JPSC) 14th Preliminary Examination (PT) and other examinations, registering an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) to examine the financial aspects of the case.

The ED has registered the ECIR on the basis of an FIR lodged by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) in connection with the alleged examination irregularities. The development brings the financial transactions and possible money trail linked to the alleged examination scam under the agency's scrutiny.

The agency is suspected to be examining whether large-scale financial transactions took place in connection with the alleged irregularities in the examinations. The investigation may cover the financial transactions associated with the case, the sources of funds and the possible movement of money.

The ED is expected to ascertain whether money changed hands in connection with the alleged examination irregularities and, if financial transactions are established, identify the individuals who may have been involved and determine the nature of their alleged roles.

(IANS)

Efforts to end the agitation through talks have failed, with student leaders insisting on a CBI investigation. The state government, meanwhile, proposed an ED probe, a fast-track court and filing of chargesheets within 90 days in cases linked to the alleged exam irregularities.

The Ranchi district administration has urged protesters to maintain peace and avoid any violent or unlawful activities during the march. Protesters, however, alleged that students travelling to Ranchi from different parts of the state were being stopped by police.

The protest entered its 17th day today, while six students continued their hunger strike over the alleged recruitment exam irregularities.  

Ahead of the planned march to the Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, student leader Ravindra Paswan on Monday urged students to maintain peace and follow constitutional norms.

The march will commence between 10:30 and 11:00 am.

Speaking to ANI, Paswan said, "A march to the Vidhan Sabha and a gherao will be conducted in a peaceful and constitutional manner. Students started gathering there at 9:00 AM. The march will commence between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. I urge all students and the general public to maintain peace and adhere to constitutional norms. Since we students are leading this movement, we must demonstrate that we are disciplined and educated. Students from every district of Jharkhand are arriving for today's protest; there will be a massive turnout."

"There is a possibility that anti-social elements might be present. In light of this, I appeal to the state police administration to assist us in ensuring the movement remains peaceful and successful. We have approximately 300-400 volunteers for today's protest; they will all help ensure the event proceeds peacefully and constitutionally. If we spot any anti-social elements or unruly individuals, we will identify them ourselves and hand them over to the authorities..." he further said.

The Jharkhand Police has imposed prohibitory orders around the assembly premises and made elaborate security arrangements across the city in view of Monday's 'Vidhan Sabha March' called by students who have been protesting for more than two weeks against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in the state.

BJP leader Amar Bauri alleged on Sunday that the party's state unit president Aditya Sahu has been "put under house arrest".

Bauri, also the party's state general secretary, said the government will "not be able to achieve success by deploying security personnel outside Sahu's residence".

All necessary security arrangements are being made in view of the proposed picketing at the state assembly, the officer said.

"In view of the possibility of unrest during the students' proposed march to the state assembly, the police administration has been put on alert," ADG (Headquarters) Manoj Kaushik said.

He urged the students, who will participate in the march to protest in a "peaceful and disciplined" manner as they have shown their discipline in the ongoing protest here for over two weeks, he said.

"It is their responsibility to ensure that anti-social elements and troublemakers are prevented from joining the march," the ADG said.

Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan said that maintaining law and order during the march is everyone's responsibility.

"We do not want a blot on the career of any student due to disruption of law and order. Barricades have been put in place at major points with the deployment of adequate police force across the city," the SSP said.

(PTI)

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday assured students that justice would be delivered and seen to be delivered. Speaking at a Tribal Festival, Soren criticised the use of force against protesters, saying "lathis and batons are meant for borders, not for use against people within the country. Your (youth) sentiments and your concerns are our concerns."
 

Jharkhand student protest leader Devendra Nath Mahto on Sunday vowed to continue his indefinite hunger strike despite a video-call outreach by four state ministers. On the eighth day of his fast and 16th day of the agitation, Mahto said the movement would continue until the government's assurances are provided in writing.

Jharkhand has been placed on high alert ahead of a proposed Assembly gherao on Monday, with students from across the state heading to Ranchi. Authorities have intensified vehicle checks and surveillance to curb turnout, while protesters continue mobilising from multiple districts for what is expected to be a major show of strength.

In a major twist in the 14th JPSC Preliminary Exam irregularities case, all three serving JPSC members, Dr Ajita Bhattacharya, Dr Anima Hansda and Dr Jamal Ahmad, have resigned and reportedly submitted their resignations to the Governor. The development comes as Jharkhand CID had summoned the trio for questioning from Monday after arresting 19 accused.