Ranchi: The five-day monsoon session of the state assembly, beginning Thursday, is set for a stormy start, with the BJP-led opposition preparing to corner the Hemant Soren govt over the JPSC-JSSC recruitment controversy and the ongoing agitation by aspirants.Amid calls by student groups and political organisations to gherao the assembly, the Ranchi administration on Wednesday imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) within a 750-metre radius of the assembly complex. The restrictions will remain in force from 8 am on Aug 6 to 10 pm on Aug 12. Jharkhand high court premises have been excluded from the restricted zone.Thousands of JPSC and JSSC aspirants have been protesting at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for more than two weeks. They are demanding recruitment examination reforms, cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and a CBI or independent probe into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process.Several student groups and organisations backed by political parties have announced phased assembly gherao programmes between Aug 6 and 10.A BJP delegation led by leader of opposition Babulal Marandi met the protesting aspirants Wednesday and assured them of full support. “The opposition will strongly pursue the demand for justice and a CBI investigation. The students have been sitting in difficult conditions for the past 12 days. We will raise the issue forcefully in the House,” BJP state general secretary Amar Kumar Bauri said.The govt, meanwhile, intensified efforts to engage with the protesters ahead of the session. CM Hemant Soren said the govt stood with the students and that CID was already probing allegations concerning recruitment examinations. He reiterated that the govt’s doors were always open for dialogue.Despite heavy rain, several aspirants took out a tiranga march in support of their demands. ABVP separately organised a similar march.Congress’s Jharkhand affairs in-charge K Raju also met Hemant and submitted a memorandum supporting the students’ demands. After the meeting, Raju said a four-member delegation of ministers would soon meet the protesters to work out a “logical solution” to their grievances.The Congress’s seven-point charter sought a time-bound and transparent probe into allegations against JPSC and JSSC, scrutiny of agencies facing complaints, transfer of officials currently serving in the commissions, a fixed annual recruitment calendar, strict enforcement of the anti-paper leak law and wider consultation with student representatives.Amid the hectic parleys, assembly speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato chaired an all-party meeting attended by Hemant, parliamentary affairs minister Radha Krishana Kishore, Marandi and members of other parties. Mahato sought cooperation for the smooth conduct of proceedings and urged members to use the short session to raise issues of public interest.
