Ready to hold talks with students, reforms on anvil: Jharkhand CM on protest over job exam ‘anomaly’

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday (August 7, 20276) said his government was ready to hold talks with students protesting over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in the State, and asserted that “big and strong reform” is on the anvil.

Mr. Soren was talking to reporters on the Assembly premises after the House was adjourned for the day over the students’ protest.

“We are ready to hold talks. The State government is eager to know the problems of every student. All the students from across the state can give their thoughts on the issues. We will move forward with a big and strong reform according to the students’ demands,” Mr. Soren said.

He said that the government is serious about resolving the students’ issues.

“Students from across the state are welcome to place their grievances before the government,” Mr. Soren reiterated.

The demonstrators have been demanding cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment test either by the CBI or by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside the State.

They also stressed comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Mr. Soren said his government has already offered a “medium to hold talks with students”. A five-member government panel, including Ministers Dipika Pandey Singh and Sudivya Kumar, is likely to interact with the protesters, an official said.

The protesting students also formed an 11-member delegation on Thursday (August 6) to hold talks with the government to resolve the impasse.

The protest against the alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in the State entered its 14th day on Friday (August 7) with six demonstrators on a hunger strike, even as two student unions staged a protest march to Vidhan Sabha.

The stalemate continues, with protesting students and job aspirants alleging that no formal invitation was received from the State government to discuss their demands and resolve the issues.