Ranchi: The students' agitation over the alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations entered its 13th day on Thursday, with protesters continuing their sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi.
The issue also sparked protests on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly, where BJP and NDA legislators staged a demonstration demanding Chief Minister Hemant Soren's resignation and a CBI probe into the alleged examination irregularities.
Chief Whip Naveen Jaiswal accused the state government of failing to ensure a fair recruitment process. Earlier in the day, a BJP delegation visited the protest site and met the agitating students. Senior BJP leader Amar Bauri alleged that ministerial quotas had influenced appointments in the recruitment process.
Rejecting the allegations, Minister Sudivya Kumar said relatives of political leaders had also secured government jobs during the BJP's tenure, adding that the party had no moral right to level such accusations. Minister Chamra Linda said the real culprits were the examination mafia and not either the ruling party or the Opposition.
Meanwhile, the CID, which is investigating the case, arrested five more people from Ranchi and Lucknow, including an accountant of TDPL Company. With the latest arrests, the total number of accused in the case has risen to 19.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed officials to conduct a fair and impartial investigation. A four-member ministerial committee is expected to hold talks with the protesting students later in the day in an effort to resolve the issue. The outcome of the discussions and the CID's ongoing investigation is now being closely watched.