RANCHI: The BJP has called for a statewide bandh in Jharkhand on Tuesday to protest the alleged use of force against students agitating over irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu said the bandh would be observed from 8 am to midnight on August 11. Essential services will remain outside the purview of the shutdown, he said.The BJP, in a social media post, said the bandh was being called in protest against the “brutal lathi charge” on students and described it as a fight for the “rights, entitlements and justice” of Jharkhand’s youth. The party demanded a fair investigation into alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations.The bandh call came a day after several students and four policemen were injured during a clash near the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi on Monday. Police used water cannons, tear gas and lathis to disperse job aspirants taking part in a ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ march.The protesters had breached multiple barricades near the Assembly, following which police intervened. While students alleged that several protesters, including women, were injured in the action, Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said four policemen sustained injuries after a section of demonstrators allegedly pelted stones.Rana said most of the protesters were peaceful but alleged that a section damaged barricades and resorted to stone pelting.“90 per cent of the students are peaceful, but 10 per cent are paying no heed to anyone,” Rana said, appealing to the protesters to maintain peace.Meanwhile, BJP leader and leader of opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly Babulal Marandi backed the students and demanded a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations.Marandi said students had been protesting at Ranchi’s Jai Pal Singh Munda Stadium for around 15 days, demanding an independent investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.He alleged that questions had been raised over several recruitment processes in the state, including the JSSC-CGL and PGT examinations. He also alleged irregularities in the evaluation process, including the appointment of allegedly unqualified teachers to check answer sheets and the failure to upload answer booklets online.Marandi also referred to the recruitment of 26,001 assistant teachers, alleging that results had been released in phases over the past six years. He cited allegations linked to the JSSC-CGL examination and the recruitment process for constables, in which 17 aspirants died during a physical test.The BJP leader said students were demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities and comprehensive reforms in the recruitment process.“Students of Jharkhand are making just one demand — a fair CBI investigation into the entire matter,” Marandi said, referring to the investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities in West Bengal.He also challenged the Jharkhand government to order a CBI probe if Chief Minister Hemant Soren was not involved in the alleged recruitment irregularities.The confrontation on Monday drew political reactions from both the BJP and Congress. Union minister Sanjay Seth criticised the use of force against the protesters and questioned the deployment of blade-wire barricades, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the alleged violence against peaceful protesters and called for dialogue.The Enforcement Directorate has also registered an ECIR under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.
