STUDENTS protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment exams burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav here on Sunday, accusing the JMM-Congress alliance of “failing to take concrete action” on their demands. The State Government, meanwhile, extended an invitation in the evening to the protesters for a fresh round of talks on Monday. The stir, led by the ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’, entered its 23rd day on Sunday, with the students reiterating their demand for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination. The agitators took out a torchlight procession from the protest site Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium toAlbert Ekka Chowk, where they burnt the effigies. Effigies were also burnt in various other districts across the State. The students expressed disappointment over the ruling JMM-Congress alliance “failing to take tangible action” on their demands, and alleged that the Government was playing politics over issues concerning the future of job aspirants. Amid the escalation, the Jharkhand Government invited representatives of the protesting students for a fresh round of talks at 2 pm on Monday. The decision came following a meeting between the protesters and the Sub-Divisional Officer and Additional District Magistrate, Law and Order, at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. An official said the students have been invited to participate in the discussions along with their legal advisor.

 

The ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’ accepted the Government’s proposal for talks at the State Guest House, but said it would not relent on its demands. “We will definitely go for the talks as we want to resolve the issue through dialogue. We are firm on two of our demands a CBI probe into irregularities in recruitment exams and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exams,” its leader Ravindra Paswan told reporters. The number of students who will be part of the delegation for the talks will be announced on Monday, he said. The proposed meeting will be the seventh round of talks between the Government and the agitating students. The previous round, held on August 9, failed to yield any breakthrough. The agitators had on Saturday announced that they would gherao the Chief Minister’s residence on August 20, and appealed to students from across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the demonstration. “We seek the CM’s resignation, as both the JMM and the Congress have been playing politics with us,” Paswan alleged. The protesters have also demanded that the Congress withdraw its support from the JMM-led Government if the Chief Minister fails to act on their concerns. The students’ body has been demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities, making the investigation report public and action against those found guilty.