Jharkhand Calls Students' Refusal to End Agitation 'Unfortunate', Appeals for Dialogue

Jharkhand government's negotiation committee on Sunday expressed disappointment over the continuing agitation by students despite multiple rounds of talks, saying the authorities have already agreed to most of their demands. The committee's remarks came after a two-hour meeting, following the students' firm stance that they will not call off their protest until a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe is ordered into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

The committee comprises Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar, Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh, Labour Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, and Welfare Minister Chamra Linda. Speaking to the media, Minister Kumar said, "It is unfortunate that students are not ready to withdraw the agitation, though we agreed to most of their demands. There is no intention to save any culprit involved in exam irregularities. We are ready for all probes. We appeal to students and their parents to shun agitation and choose dialogue to resolve the issue."

The state government has also launched a portal to seek suggestions from students for exam reforms. According to the committee, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be framed to ensure transparency in future job examinations. The panel assured that all security arrangements have been made in view of the protesters' planned march to the Jharkhand assembly on August 10, and that no student will be harassed.

The protesting students, who allege irregularities in recruitment exams, remained adamant on their demand for a CBI probe despite assurances of justice from Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar. A fresh round of talks between the government and student representatives earlier on Sunday also failed to achieve a breakthrough, with authorities claiming they had accepted 98 per cent of the demands except the one for a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL examination.

The ongoing standoff highlights the tension between the state government's efforts to address grievances through dialogue and the students' insistence on a specific investigation mechanism. The government has reiterated its openness to all forms of inquiry, while appealing for a peaceful resolution. Parents and students have been urged to participate in the consultative process initiated through the portal.