Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to personally meet students protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment exams. The protest at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi has entered its 24th day, with some students on hunger strike.
Gandhi said the youth are India’s future and asked Soren to hear their concerns and take appropriate action.
Rahul Gandhi Supports Right to Protest Amid Education System Concerns
Rahul Gandhi emphasized that the Congress party views the right to peaceful protest as fundamental to democracy. His remarks come in the context of ongoing protests by students who are raising concerns over alleged paper leaks and irregularities within the education system.
The state government is set to hold the fourth round of dialogue with a student delegation on Monday. “The Congress party believes that the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in the Constitution of India is one of the central pillars of our democracy. It is also our belief that the Indian education system has been captured by the RSS and BJP and transformed into a tool for the exploitation and oppression of students. Some students are also on an indefinite hunger strike as the protest continues. The Jharkhand government has started talks with the students through a committee set up by the chief minister. “As you are aware, students in Jharkhand have also been protesting irregularities in the State recruitment examinations. Their protest has been peaceful, and their demands are legitimate. I appreciate that the Jharkhand government has begun a dialogue with them through a committee instituted by you. He also warned that the movement would continue if the government failed to meet the students’ expectations. “There is hope and faith. But if the government fails to live up to it, the struggle will continue. The planned action includes a gherao of the Chief Minister’s residence and the Vidhan Sabha. The government has also allowed students to bring legal experts to the talks. Congress is a constituent of the state’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government. He noted that an agreement has been reached on several demands even as the protests continue, and some students remain on an indefinite hunger strike. “The youth of India is its future. We owe them our solidarity and support at this moment of crisis. Please do your utmost to hear them out and take appropriate action towards the resolution of this issue.”
We have, therefore, offered our full support to students protesting paper leaks and irregularities in the education system over the last few months. I hope the talks satisfy the students, and we want an education system to emerge–a system that for generations to come, for those currently in 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, or in school, or in +2, when those students face competitive exams, they shouldn’t have to face such struggles,” he said.
It is no longer the robust knowledge system that it used to be a decade ago,” he said. I believe that there is also agreement on several demands raised by the students,” he said. Mahato said the students want a fair education and examination system for future generations. Earlier reporting noted: Rahul writes to Soren, suggests that he personally meet protesting students Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to chief minister Hemant Soren, suggesting he “personally meet” the students protesting against the alleged irregularities in recruitment exams, underlining that it will help reinforce the Jharkhand government’s commitment to resolving the crisis.
Earlier reporting noted: The protest and hunger strike against irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment exams have entered the 24th day. Earlier reporting noted: Gandhi appreciated the Jharkhand government’s dialogue with the protesters.
