Ranchi: As protests over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations entered the 13th day on Thursday, state Health and Medical Education Minister Irfan Ansari rejected allegations of a paper leak and appealed for dialogue to resolve the impasse.
The ongoing agitation, led by aspirants of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations, has gathered momentum, with several student organisations joining the protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in support of the demonstrators.
Addressing reporters, Ansari firmly denied claims of a paper leak, saying, “There has been no paper leak in Jharkhand. This is not Uttar Pradesh, Bihar or Gujarat. This is Jharkhand, and we are serious about protecting the integrity of the recruitment process.”
The minister said the government had not ignored complaints and had taken action wherever irregularities were detected.
“Whenever any wrongdoing has come to light, action has been taken. Jharkhand is among the few states that have acted against those responsible. Our Chief Minister has shown sincerity in dealing with these issues,” he said.
On the demand to cancel the JPSC examination, Ansari cautioned that scrapping the recruitment process would create a fresh crisis, as candidates who had successfully cleared the examination would also take to the streets.
“There may have been shortcomings, but they can be rectified. Cancelling the examination altogether is not the solution. Every issue can be settled through discussion,” he said.
Despite persistent rain over the past two days, the protesters have refused to end their sit-in, insisting they will continue the agitation until the government accepts their key demands.
Student leader Devendra Mahto continued his indefinite hunger strike on Thursday, while fellow aspirants remained at the protest site through the night.
In a significant development, a delegation of protesting students was scheduled to hold talks with the state government later in the day. The meeting is expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the prolonged agitation moves towards a negotiated settlement or continues in the coming days.
With inputs from IANS