New Delhi, Aug 6 (IANS) Even as the Jharkhand government on Thursday geared up for talks with a delegation of students’ representatives, Congress leaders defended the Hemant Soren regime over the ongoing protests against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examinations, asserting that the party supports the legitimate demands of students while maintaining that the situation should be resolved through dialogue.

The remarks came as the student agitation over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment process continues to intensify, with protesters demanding greater transparency and accountability in the examination system.

The demonstration, being held at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, has continued to gain momentum as representatives of multiple student groups reached the protest site in the morning to express solidarity with the agitating aspirants and support their demands for reforms in the recruitment process.

Speaking to IANS on the issue, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said the party stood by every genuine and moral demand raised by the students, while drawing a distinction between the handling of the protests in Jharkhand and in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

“We support every moral demand of the students. The only difference is that nail-studded batons were not used in Jharkhand, nor were pellet guns used. We support the steps taken by the Jharkhand government so far in this matter. The students’ problems will be resolved through dialogue,” Tiwari said.

Congress MP Pawan Khera also defended the state government’s approach, saying senior party leaders had already reached out to the protesting students.

“Our leaders visited the protest site on Wednesday and are in constant contact with the students. What happened here has not happened anywhere else,” Khera said.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies of politicising the issue instead of addressing the concerns of students.

Speaking to IANS, Bhagat said, “The Bharatiya Janata Party and all the NDA constituents are looking for excuses. They have nothing to do with the problems of students. Hemant Soren himself is young and sensitive, and our Congress members are in touch with him. Our team is also providing support to them. We are with the students.”

He said the Congress also wanted complete transparency in the JPSC recruitment process and that public confidence in the commission should remain intact.

“The BJP is playing politics on this issue. In 16 years, the BJP conducted only five examinations in the state. Not a single examination was conducted during its last term. Since Hemant Soren’s government came to power in Jharkhand, examinations have been conducted nine times. The JPSC chairman was removed after irregularities were found in OMR sheets. Nineteen people have been arrested,” Bhagat added.

Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also expressed support for the ongoing student movement, saying the concerns being raised by the aspirants were justified.

Speaking to IANS, Thakur said, “We respect the students’ movement and their protest is completely justified considering what has happened. Rahul Gandhi is running programs across the country through the voice of students. Hemant Soren ji has taken cognisance of the situation, and that is why the raids started even before the movement began.”

Meanwhile, the movement, led primarily by JPSC aspirants, has intensified over the past two weeks. Despite continuous overnight rainfall, the protesters remained at the venue, refusing to call off the agitation and reiterating that they would continue their protest until their demands were addressed by the government.

Amid the protest, a delegation of students has been granted an appointment for talks with representatives of the Jharkhand government on Thursday.

The outcome of the meeting is being closely watched, as the protesters hope that the dialogue will pave the way for a positive resolution to their demands.

–IANS

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