Thousands of job aspirants head towards Jharkhand assembly,

Thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand are protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, demanding a CBI probe.

JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, on a nine-day fast, joined the march to the state assembly despite health concerns.

The protest, now in its 17th day, coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday.

BJP leaders also staged a separate protest, demanding a CBI probe and criticising the state government.

Protesters insist on a CBI probe and cancellation of several exams, rejecting the government's claim of accepting most demands.

 

Thousands of job aspirants, protesting alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations in Jharkhand, began their march to the state assembly on Monday.

JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a fast for nine days over the issue, joined the march in an ambulance, despite losing 10.5 kg.

He was seen carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren.

Escalating Protests and Security Measures : Armed with the tricolour and placards, the demonstrators raised slogans in support of their demands as their protest entered the 17th day.

The march, which coincided with the 51st birthday of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, began from outside the old assembly complex in Dhurwa, and the demonstrators aim to reach the new Vidhan Sabha building.

Besides imposing prohibitory orders, heavy security has been deployed on the entire stretch, around 4 km long, with senior officers keeping a close watch, officials said.

More than 1,500 personnel from the Rapid Action Force, Indian Reserve Battalion, district police and QRT have been deployed, they said. Most of the schools in the city have been closed, they added.

Opposition Joins Demands : BJP leaders also staged a protest outside Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence, demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state.

At the sit-in led by the party's state unit chief Aditya Sahu and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, the protesters were seen raising slogans and holding up placards with demands such as "stop playing with students' future" and "recommend a CBI probe into irregularities in JPSC examination".

A police official said several BJP leaders, including Sahu and Marandi, have been detained. On the other hand, BJP's Jharkhand unit spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo says he and several other leaders were under "house arrest" since 7 am.

Government Talks Fail to Break Deadlock : The government has held several rounds of talks with the demonstrators, but failed to break the deadlock.

After the last round of deliberations, the government said it had accepted 98 per cent of the demands of the demonstrators.

However, the protesters said the government had agreed to cancel only three of the 13 exams they wanted scrapped. "We will not compromise till our demand for a CBI probe is fulfilled," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.

Demands for Comprehensive Reforms : The agitators are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment tests, including the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.

Nineteen people have so far been arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations.