‘Government did politics with students’: JPSC protest to intensify across Jharkhand

Ranchi: Student leader Ravindra Paswan on Thursday accused the Jharkhand government of ‘doing politics’ with students and announced that the agitation over the 11th to 13th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations will intensify following the High Court’s order staying their cancellation.

Paswan said students had trusted the government after being assured that their demands had been accepted, the examinations would be cancelled and a proper investigation would be conducted. However, he alleged that the government’s stand before the High Court did not reflect those assurances.

“I would not like to make a comment on the High Court order. But the commitment made to us by the government was that all our demands had been accepted, that the exam had been cancelled and that there would be a proper investigation. We did not see this intent of the government today,” Paswan told ANI.

Paswan also alleged that the advocate representing the state government did not make any submission before the court during the hearing.

“The advocate representing the Govt did not even say a word. So, the government had only intended to end the students' protest in one way or another, to get the exam cancelled on one end and allow joining from the other end,” he said.

He said students had trusted the Jharkhand government and believed that the Chief Minister would not engage in politics over the issue.

“We had trusted the Jharkhand Govt. We thought that the CM wouldn't do politics with students. But he is doing it today,” Paswan said.

Effigy burning announced across 24 districts

Paswan said the students would now intensify their agitation. He announced that effigies of the Chief Minister would be burnt across all 24 districts of Jharkhand on Friday, August 21.

“Now, students will have to do politics. Students will have to answer in the same manner. Students will burn an effigy of the CM across all 24 districts of the state tomorrow,” he said.

Jharkhand High Court stays cancellation of JPSC exams

The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday stayed the state government’s order cancelling the 11th to 13th JPSC examinations and appointments. The order came as the court heard various petitions filed by newly appointed officers challenging the government’s decision.

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The High Court’s stay provides relief to the newly appointed officers who had challenged the cancellation order, while the student agitation is set to intensify with the latest announcement from Paswan.

With ANI inputs