Ranchi: The monsoon session of the state assembly began on a stormy note on Thursday as opposition lawmakers led by BJP MLAs staged protests over the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).NDA MLAs staged protest outside the assembly and demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities. As the House commenced, leader of opposition Babulal Marandi and the other BJP MLAs attended with face masks on and sought answers from the state govt on the alleged irregularities in recruitments.Opposition MLAs have backed the protests which have been going on at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi for over two weeks. Hundreds of job aspirants from across the state are seeking reforms in recruitment examinations and free and fair probe. The CID, which has been probing the alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, has arrested 19 people so far.Yet, the protest, which came close on the heels on students’ protests over question paper leaks in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar last month, has landed in the centre of a political slugfest between the JMM-led INDIA bloc and the NDA bloc parties in the state. The state govt also formed a high-level ministerial committee for talks with the protestors.On day one, the House convened briefly for customary obituary references. Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto then adjourned the proceedings till 11 am on Friday. In his address, Mahto said the five-day session, which will conduct business till Aug 12, will deliberate on important public issues. The first supplementary budget will also be tabled during this session.Emphasising the importance of smooth functioning of the House, Mahto said, “Differences of opinion are natural, but public interest should always remain paramount.”
