Congress backs Jharkhand students, pins hopes on talks as JPSC protest gathers steam

As the Hemant Soren government prepared to open dialogue with a delegation of agitating students on Thursday, the Congress rallied behind the Jharkhand administration, defending its handling of the growing unrest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).

The party maintained that while it fully supported the legitimate demands of students seeking transparency and accountability in the recruitment process, the crisis should be resolved through dialogue rather than confrontation.

The protest, centred at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, has gathered momentum over the past fortnight, with aspirants alleging irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). On Thursday morning, representatives of several student organisations joined the demonstration in a show of solidarity, amplifying demands for sweeping reforms in the state's recruitment system.

With a meeting between government representatives and a student delegation scheduled later in the day, all eyes are now on whether negotiations can break the deadlock.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said the party stood firmly with every "genuine and moral" demand raised by students, while contrasting the Jharkhand government's response with the alleged police action against protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

"We support every moral demand of the students. The only difference is that nail-studded batons were not used in Jharkhand, nor were pellet guns used. We support the steps taken by the Jharkhand government so far. The students' problems will be resolved through dialogue," Tiwari told IANS.

Congress leader Pawan Khera echoed the sentiment, saying senior party leaders had already visited the protest site and were in constant touch with the agitating students.

"Our leaders visited the protest site on Wednesday and are in constant contact with the students. What happened here has not happened anywhere else," he said.

Joining the attack on the BJP, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the opposition of exploiting the issue for political gain instead of addressing the concerns of students.

"The BJP and all the NDA constituents are looking for excuses. They have nothing to do with the problems of students. Hemant Soren himself is young and sensitive, and our Congress members are in touch with him. Our team is also extending support. We are with the students," Bhagat said.

He asserted that the Congress was equally committed to ensuring transparency in the recruitment process and preserving public confidence in the JPSC.

Claiming that the BJP lacked the moral authority to criticise the state government, Bhagat alleged that only five recruitment examinations were conducted during the party's 16 years in power, and none during its last term.

"Since Hemant Soren's government came to power, nine examinations have been conducted. The JPSC chairman was removed after irregularities were found in OMR sheets, and 19 people have been arrested," he said.

Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also threw his weight behind the movement, describing the students' grievances as legitimate.

"We respect the students' movement. Their protest is completely justified considering what has happened. Rahul Gandhi is running programmes across the country to amplify the voice of students. Hemant Soren has taken cognisance of the issue, which is why action began even before the movement gathered pace," Thakur said.

Despite continuous overnight rain, the protesters remained camped at the venue, refusing to withdraw until concrete action was announced. The determination of the aspirants has turned the protest into one of the most closely watched political developments in Jharkhand, with the outcome of Thursday's talks expected to determine the course of the agitation.

With IANS inputs