Jharkhand JPSC protest takes dramatic turn as students drop journalists, lawyer from talks panel | Ranchi News

The development comes against the backdrop of the state government’s repeated assertion that it is willing to engage directly with students.

RANCHI: In a significant development in the ongoing agitation over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) recruitment examinations, protesting students on Friday removed the names of two journalists and a lawyer from the delegation that is expected to hold talks with the state government.The protesters have now finalised a 10-member delegation comprising only student representatives. The delegation includes Ravindra Paswan, Piyush Kumar, Rajesh Prasad, Neetu Kujur, Ankit Raj, Kartik Soren, Shalu Kumari, Ravindra Kumar Ravi, Anand Kumar and Ankit Kumar.The move comes hours after higher and technical education minister Sudivya Kumar objected to the inclusion of an advocate in the proposed delegation and accused the BJP and the “coaching mafia” of attempting to hijack the students’ movement.With the revised delegation now consisting solely of students, the impasse over the composition of the panel appears to have eased, raising the possibility of formal talks between the agitators and the government.The students have been staging a protest demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or by a committee of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand. The agitation entered its 14th day on Friday, with six protesters continuing their indefinite hunger strike.Govt ready for talksAs per news agency PTI, the development comes against the backdrop of the state government’s repeated assertion that it is willing to engage directly with students.Speaking outside the assembly earlier in the day, minister Sudivya Kumar said the agitation belonged to students and warned against attempts by political parties or the “coaching mafia” to influence it.“This agitation belongs to students and the government is ready to talk to them. If the BJP or Jharkhand’s coaching mafia wants to hijack the agitation, the government will not allow that to happen,” Kumar had said.He had specifically objected to the inclusion of an advocate in the delegation and urged students to nominate only their representatives for discussions.

“Our intention is clear. The doors are open for talks with students. If the students’ delegation sends us its list, the government will hold discussions and work towards resolving the issue,” he said.The minister also appealed to the protesters not to allow their movement to be politicised.“Do not mortgage your genuine agitation to those who are doing politics. The government is serious about your concerns and wants to resolve them through dialogue,” he said.Kumar also launched a sharp attack on the BJP, alleging that leaders whose relatives secured appointments through earlier JPSC examinations despite a CBI probe were now attempting to champion the students’ cause. He accused the opposition of adopting double standards and claimed that including the former Advocate General in the delegation was an attempt to weaken the students’ movement.