The Jharkhand government has announced plans to hold a sixth round of talks with students protesting alleged irregularities in the state’s job exams. The decision was made after a panel tasked with holding dialogue with the demonstrators met with Chief Minister Hemant Soren to discuss progress made during the previous five rounds of talks. According to Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh, a member of the panel, the meeting with the chief minister was held to apprise him of the students’ views and demands.
The panel decided that a final round of talks with the protesting students will take place on Sunday at 12 pm. The protests, which have been ongoing, are centered around demands for comprehensive reform in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The students are also calling for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.
Despite holding four rounds of talks with various agitating outfits since Friday night, the Jharkhand government has failed to break the deadlock. The protesting job aspirants have decided to continue their stir until all their demands are met. Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, another member of the panel, stated that the meeting at the chief minister’s residence decided to hold further talks with the agitators.
