'Will try to get CBI inquiry conducted': BJP’s Nishikant Dubey backs Jharkhand students

Jharkhand's recruitment exam row is showing no signs of easing, with BJP Lok Sabha MP Nishikant Dubey promising to push for a CBI inquiry while protesting aspirants have vowed to continue their agitation until their demands are addressed.

Speaking to reporters in Deoghar on Friday, Dubey said the issue concerns the future of Jharkhand's students and would be taken up forcefully in Parliament.

He said efforts would be made to secure a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities surrounding the state's competitive examinations.

'We are raising this issue in Parliament. This matter concerns the future of the children of Jharkhand. We will try to get a CBI inquiry conducted into it,' Dubey said.

The BJP MP also argued that those responsible for recruitment-related lapses must be held accountable, stressing that such failures should not be allowed to recur.

He said an investigation would be pursued through every available avenue, including legal intervention and pressure from students.

'It is a question of Jharkhand's students' future, we will ensure a proper investigation is conducted whether prompted by court intervention, student pressure, or student protests so that no one dares to commit such an act again in the future,' he added.

The political push comes as JPSC and JSSC aspirants continue their protest in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in the JPSC, JSSC CGL and other competitive examinations.

On Friday, representatives of the protesting aspirants held their first round of formal discussions with a state government delegation.

However, the students said the talks had failed to provide a clear timeframe for resolving their principal demands and maintained that the agitation would continue.

Student leader Piyush Kumar said the proposed 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' on August 10 remains firmly on the protesters' agenda.

'Our proposal for 'Vidhan Sabha gherao' on 10th August continues to be. We are going ahead with this on 10th August. Until the last of our demands is met, the protest will continue,' Kumar said.

He said a 10-member student delegation had placed its main demands before the government representatives during the meeting, adding that ministers had listened to their concerns and assured them that the issues would be discussed.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, meanwhile, said the government was willing to engage with the protesting students and work towards reforms.

'We have already specified a channel of communication. We are ready to talk. The government is keen to understand the issues faced by every student,' Soren said, adding that efforts were underway to take the students' concerns beyond Jaipal Singh Stadium.

The protests have been centred at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi. According to the JPSC JSSC Reform Manch, the students have finalised an 11-member delegation comprising eight student representatives, one lawyer and two technical experts for discussions with the state government.

The protesters have also demanded that future talks be conducted in the presence of the media, alleging that earlier closed-door discussions failed to produce a resolution.

The latest meeting took place at the State Guest House in Ranchi between a five-member state government delegation and a 10-member delegation representing the protesting aspirants.