RANCHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday extended support to students protesting in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations.In a post on X, Dipke said, “Spoke to the students who are protesting in Jharkhand over irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams. The CJP stands with all the students in Jharkhand and supports their demands.”The CJP also posted on X, saying, “CJP stands with the students of Jharkhand who are protesting over the irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams.”Meanwhile, hundreds of students continued their protest for the fifth consecutive day in Ranchi on Sunday, demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, JSSC-CGL and other recruitment tests.The protesters have been holding an indefinite sit-in at a stadium since July 29 and are demanding reforms in the recruitment process and action against those responsible for the alleged discrepancies.During the protest, students raised slogans including “Order CBI probe in JPSC”, “Long live Students Unity” and “Shame on Hemant Soren”.“Paper leaks in JPSC have happened several times. This time, OMR sheets of candidates have been leaked. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has ordered a CID probe, but we are not satisfied,” JPSC aspirant Rahul Kumar Kranti told PTI.He alleged that earlier probes into the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC)-CGL paper leak had failed to result in any action and claimed that the latest investigation could also be “covered up” after a few months.“We have completely lost faith in the ongoing CID probe. We demand a CBI probe into all recruitment examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC over the past seven years. We also demand the chief minister’s resignation on moral grounds,” Kranti said.The protesters are demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Preliminary Test held on April 19 and an independent probe by central agencies, including the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED), into alleged irregularities in recruitment exams conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.They are also demanding the introduction of a fifth option of “not attempted” in OMR sheets.“The careers of thousands of students and aspirants are at stake due to corruption in both agencies. Most of us come from farmers’ families. We only want fair opportunities based on merit,” said Ankit Kumar from Giridih district.Meanwhile, thousands of students took out a torchlight procession in Jharkhand’s capital, Ranchi, on Sunday evening.The protesters, who have been holding an indefinite sit-in at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, marched towards Albert Ekka Chowk, where they raised slogans against the JMM-led alliance government and demanded an impartial probe into alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC, JSSC-CGL and other state-level recruitment examinations.The students warned that if the state government failed to address their concerns, they would march to the Jharkhand Assembly and stage a gherao in the coming days.“We have been holding protests, but no government officials approached us to listen to our concerns on these issues. This clearly shows the insensitivity of this JMM-led alliance government towards the thousands of students and youths of the state,” they alleged. (With agency inputs)
