Leader Warns Of Statewide Chakka Jam If Exam Reforms Are Delayed
Key Points:
- JLKM’s recruitment reform yatra holds street meetings in Giridih
- Devendra Nath Mahto accuses government of misleading agitating students
- Leader threatens statewide chakka jam if demands remain unmet
GIRIDIH – The chariot of the “Recruitment System Reform Yatra,” launched in support of the students’ movement over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations, reached Giridih on Wednesday.
The yatra had begun on August 24 from Nemra, the village of Disom Guru Shibu Soren, and is set to travel through all 24 districts of the state. On reaching Giridih, JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto addressed students, youths and competitive-exam aspirants through street meetings held at three separate locations in the district.
During the gatherings, Mahto questioned the existing system of recruitment examinations in Jharkhand and sharply criticised the state government. He said students had been protesting for the past month against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations. According to Mahto, the students were demanding that recruitment exams be conducted in a transparent and fair manner so that the future of hard-working candidates was not jeopardised.
He said the state government had, during the agitation, taken a decision affecting nearly 40 examinations. However, the examinations were later restored after a court stayed the government’s order. Mahto said the entire episode had left students confused and angry.
Moreover, Mahto alleged that the government was betraying the agitating students by offering only assurances instead of concrete action. He said the repeated allegations of irregularities in recruitment exams had forced Jharkhand’s youth onto the streets to demand their rights. He called for a comprehensive overhaul of the recruitment examination system.
He warned that if the government failed to reform the recruitment system soon and did not take students’ demands seriously, JLKM would launch a statewide chakka jam agitation. He said the party would not back down on an issue tied to the future of the state’s youth.
Mahto said, “The government is already selling off Jharkhand’s water, forests, land and mineral wealth; at the very least, it should not hand over jobs meant for the state’s students to outsiders.” He said it was unfortunate that Jharkhand’s youth had to agitate for jobs and rights within their own state.
He added that the purpose of the yatra was not merely to protest but also to make the state’s youth aware of their rights. Through the street meetings in Giridih, JLKM workers sought to raise awareness on reforming the recruitment system, protecting the interests of local youth and ensuring transparency in competitive examinations.
Besides the speeches, enthusiasm among the youth was visible during the yatra. Leaders said the students’ voice would continue to be raised firmly until the examination process was made fully transparent and trustworthy.
The protest yatra’s arrival in Giridih comes amid continuing unrest in the district. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha had earlier taken to the streets in Giridih against the MMDR amendment bill, while BJP leader Babulal Marandi has separately attacked the government over a student clash in the district.
Meanwhile, the recruitment-exam row has continued to dominate state politics. The Jharkhand High Court recently stayed the cancellation of the JPSC and JSSC exams, and the state cabinet had earlier scrapped the JSSC CGL exam following a 24-day student protest. Opposition leader Babulal Marandi has also questioned the CID probe into the exam cancellations and reiterated his demand for a CBI inquiry.
