Jharkhand to set up fast-track courts, panel headed by ex-judge; student protesters hold on to CBI probe demand | India News

Technical and Higher Education Minister and panel member Sudivya Kumar said the government has accepted 98 per cent of the demands, but it is not in a position to accept one for the CBI probe into JSSC-CGL exam, as it was conducted under the monitoring of the High Court and Supreme Court.

“We held positive dialogue with students; the Jharkhand government will recommend an ED probe into financial irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission exam. Now they will take a final call whether to withdraw the agitation or not,” Kumar said.

“A panel will also be formed with experts drawn from IIT-ISM Dhanbad, IIM Ranchi and XLRI Jamshedpur to suggest examination reforms,” he said, adding that the government has also consented to set up a panel under a retired HC judge for JSSC-CGL examination probe.

Soren promises to deliver justice

Chief Minister Hemant Soren reiterated his promise to deliver justice to youths agitating alleged irregularities in recruitment exams while asserting that dialogue, not batons, can solve all problems at home. Soren on Sunday alleged that vested interests were working at full force to disrupt democracy in the state, he said the students’ stir should not be politicised and warned those harbouring political ambitions against misguiding youths.

Soren said the youths’ concern was his concern and those involved in exam irregularities will face strict action. Sixth round of talks between the government and the agitators is being held at the state guest house in Ranchi.

“Unable to accept the state’s self-reliance, vested interests are working at full force in Jharkhand to disrupt democracy here. Samvad and not ‘lathi-danda-bandook’ (dialogue, not batons), can solve all problems.

“Weapons are meant for enemies at the border. I promise the exam protesters that justice will be delivered with full transparency,” the chief minister said, addressing Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav.

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar also urged the students to solve the matter through “dialogue” and not agitation, while saying that the government’s doors were always open for them.

The government committee talked to Devendra Nath Mahto, one of the individuals who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past eight days, an official told PTI. Mahto’s condition had deteriorated around 3 am and doctors found that his blood glucose level was low.

Minister Kumar, who is also a member of the panel, talked to Mahto via video call and assured him that talks were underway and the issue would be resolved during the day. Another panel member, Minister Dipika Pandey Singh also urged him to end the hunger strike, according to Mahto.

While the government continued to persuade him to end the hunger strike, Mahto remained firm and said he would decide on it only after the delegates of the protesters returned from the meeting with the panel.

The protesters have dubbed the talks initiated by Hemant Soren government as “political manoeuvring” and have called for a march to the Assembly on August 10 if the government fails to meet their demands by Sunday. The meetings held on Friday and Saturday failed to break the deadlock.

So far, the state government held discussions with JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, Congress’s student wing NSUI, Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (JCM) and Adivasi Chhatra Sangh (ACS).