BJP lays siege to CM residence, leaders detained

Stepping up its attack on the Hemant Soren government over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, the BJP on Monday gheraoed the Chief Minister’s residence and demanded a CBI probe into the JPSC and JSSC examination controversies, besides seeking Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s resignation.

The BJP action came hours after thousands of students marched towards the Assembly demanding action over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in recruitment examinations.

BJP state president Aditya Sahu, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi and several party MLAs and functionaries reached the Chief Minister’s residence seeking a meeting with Soren to press for the students’ demands.

However, police stopped the BJP leaders outside the CM’s residence. In protest, they sat on a dharna at the gate before being detained and taken to the camp jail at Khelgaon.

Sahu accused the government of suppressing the students’ movement and termed the police lathi-charge on protesting aspirants “shameful” and a “black chapter for democracy”. He said the BJP would continue its agitation from the streets to the Assembly until the students received justice.

“The government will have to order a CBI probe,” Sahu said, alleging irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by JPSC and JSSC. He also demanded action against those responsible for alleged paper leaks and manipulation.

Marandi said students had been agitating for more than two weeks and accused the government of merely “passing time” in the name of talks. He demanded that cases involving the JPSC, JSSC CGL, excise constable and other recruitment examinations be investigated by the CBI under court supervision.

Targeting the government over the police action against students, Marandi said every lathi used against the protesters would become “the last nail in the coffin” of the JMM-Congress government.

He vowed that the BJP would continue its struggle across Jharkhand until the students’ demands were addressed.

The BJP leaders also criticised the detention of its MLAs while the Assembly session was underway, calling it undemocratic. They raised slogans against the government and demanded cancellation of disputed examinations, a CBI probe and accountability for alleged recruitment irregularities.

The BJP’s mobilisation has added a political dimension to the students’ 17-day agitation.

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