Govt claim of accepting 98% demands full of lies; only three exams cancelled: Jharkhand student leader

Ranchi, Barely two hours after a government-appointed panel claimed to have accepted 98 per cent of demands of students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in Jharkhand, demonstrators alleged that the JMM-led dispensation was "spreading lies" as it agreed to cancel only 3 of 13 competitive tests.

The agitating students sought support from political parties and common people for their ongoing peaceful democratic protest and proposed 'Vidhan Sabha March' on August 10.

Addressing a press conference here, the demonstrators said they would not allow anti-social elements to disrupt their democratic agitation.


"The Jharkhand government is spreading lies that it fulfilled 98 per cent of our demands. It cancelled only 3 of 13 exams sought by us. We appeal to all students from Jharkhand to join 'Vidhan Sabha March' on Monday in support of our demand for a CBI probe which will expose irregularities in all examinations conducted by the state," a student leader alleged.

Another student leader Ravindra Paswan accused the government of being "adamant on a probe by CID, which is known for cover-ups".

The protesters said their protest will be "peaceful and democratic".

"We will not allow anti-social elements to disrupt our peaceful, democratic agitation," another student leader said.

The students appealed to the people and political parties to make Monday's agitation a "mass movement" and sought moral support from parents for their sons-daughters' agitation without any political banner.

"We want to remove the job-selling system in Jharkhand; our agitation is non-violent," a protester said.

The students' outburst came after a Jharkhand government panel said at a press conference that it is unfortunate that students failed to withdraw their protest despite 98 per cent of their demands being met.

The students' protest entered its 16th day on Sunday, while six of them are on hunger strike protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams.