Rahul Gandhi Objects To Use Of Force Against Protesting Students In Jharkhand

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned the use of force against students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand. His remarks came after police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge during a march by job aspirants towards the Jharkhand Assembly premises.

Gandhi emphasised that students have a right to peaceful protest and urged the Jharkhand government to engage with the demonstrators. He stated that dialogue was necessary to resolve their concerns and urged the government to listen to the protesters and address their demands at the earliest. The Congress is a junior ally of Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the state.

The protest march began outside the old Assembly building at around 10.30 am and coincided with Soren’s 51st birthday. The demonstration entered its 17th day as job aspirants continued to demand reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). Police action followed after protesters breached barricades while moving towards the Assembly.

Also Read: Police Use Water Cannons To Disperse Jharkhand Protesters

Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a nine-day fast over the issue, joined the march in an ambulance. He objected to the use of barbed-wire barricades along the protest route and maintained that students were increasingly frustrated over what they described as injustice. The government has held several rounds of discussions with the demonstrators, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.

The protesters have demanded the cancellation of 13 recruitment examinations, while maintaining that the government has agreed to scrap only three of them. One protester, Sanjay Mahto, told PTI that he was injured during the police lathi-charge. The latest confrontation has added to tensions surrounding the prolonged agitation over recruitment examinations and demands for changes in the examination process.

Gandhi’s remarks also come amid wider Opposition criticism of the handling of student protests over examination-related issues. He has previously questioned the government’s response to a July 20 student march towards Parliament in Delhi and sought accountability over the police action there. In a column published in The Hindu, Gandhi also raised questions over the use of tear gas, lathis and pellet guns during that protest.

Also Read: Jharkhand Opens Email Channel For Feedback Following Second Round Of Talks With Protesters