Rahul urges Soren to meet Jharkhand protesters, 'hear them out'

A day after students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand burnt effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the Congress released an earlier letter by Rahul in which he urged the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief to meet the protesters personally.

While Rahul sent the letter on August 14, the Congress decided to release it to the media on Monday (August 17) in view of the intensified protests and students’ outrage against the party.

'We owe them our solidarity'

Protesters have been unsparing in their criticism of the Congress, which is in alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the state, and have questioned its alleged silence over the issue.

Appreciating Soren’s government’s initiative in initiating dialogue with the student protesters, Rahul said despite the government agreeing to several demands raised by students, the protests continue and some students remain on indefinite hunger strike.

Also read: Jharkhand protesters burn CM Soren, Rahul Gandhi’s effigies as govt calls for fresh talks

“I am writing to suggest that you personally meet with the representatives of the protesting students. This will help reinforce the government’s commitment to resolve their remaining concerns,” he said.

“The youth of India is its future. We owe them our solidarity and support at this moment of crisis. Please do your utmost to hear them out and take appropriate action towards the resolution of this issue,” the letter added.

Outrage against Mahagathbandan govt

The development comes even as the protest enters its 24^th consecutive day on Monday and when the Soren government has invited the students for a fresh round of talks.

A day earlier, the demonstrators burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Soren, Rahul and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, accusing the JMM-Congress alliance of "failing to take concrete action" on their demands.

Later in the evening, the Soren government invited the protesters for a fresh round of talks at 2 pm on Monday.

The proposed meeting will be the seventh round of talks between the government and the agitating students. The previous rounds of talks failed to yield any breakthrough.

Also read: Jharkhand protesters to gherao Hemant Soren’s residence, demand his resignation

The decision came following a meeting between the protesters and the sub-divisional officer and the additional district magistrate (Law and Order) at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.

"We will definitely go for the talks as we want to resolve the issue through dialogue. We are firm on two of our demands -- a CBI probe into irregularities in recruitment exams and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exams," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan told reporters.

Effigies burnt

Led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, the protesters are demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment exams and the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

The agitators took out a torchlight procession from the protest site of Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk on Sunday, where they burnt the effigies. Several districts witnessed similar protests.

The students expressed disappointment over the ruling JMM-Congress alliance "failing to take tangible action" on their demands, and alleged that the government was playing politics over issues concerning the future of job aspirants.

Also read: Jharkhand protests: Symptom of deep rot in Public Service Commissions

The agitators had on Saturday announced that they would gherao the chief minister's residence on August 20, and appealed to students from across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the demonstration.

"We seek the chief minister’s resignation, as both the JMM and the Congress have been playing politics with us," Paswan alleged.

The protesters have also demanded that the Congress withdraw its support from the JMM-led government if the chief minister fails to act on their concerns.

Congress to discuss issue at Aug 18 meet

The Congress has said its state unit would discuss the issue at a meeting on August 18.

"Any attempt to harm the future of Jharkhand's youth will not be tolerated," state Congress media in-charge Rakesh Sinha said, adding that the party would raise the students' concerns and push for transparency, impartiality and a time-bound recruitment process.

The protesters have also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying that although he had expressed support for students, no concrete action followed.

Also read: What explains govt’s late U-turn on student protest debate?

The Jharkhand government has sought to reassure the job aspirants by announcing measures aimed at making the recruitment process more transparent and secure.

The measures outlined by the government include a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process.

The government has also launched a campaign to seek suggestions from students, teachers, educationists and parents on reforms in the examination system.