Ranchi, Aug 7 — The Jharkhand Assembly on Friday witnessed huge uproar, heated exchanges and political sparring among members over alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
As soon as the House assembled, BJP legislators staged a strong protest both inside and outside the House, demanding action over alleged anomalies and malpractices in several state recruitment examinations.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi stood up in the House and sought an immediate discussion on the issue. He also demanded cancellation of the examinations and a CBI probe under the supervision of the Jharkhand High Court.
Marandi alleged that large-scale irregularities had occurred in almost all recent recruitment examinations, including those for Assistant Teachers, CGL, Excise Constables, PGT Teachers, and the 11th to 14th JPSC recruitment processes.
He said job aspirants were being forced to sit on the streets and stage protests even amid heavy rains, resulting in embarrassment for the state government.
When the opposition's demand was not accepted, BJP MLAs and other opposition members entered the well of the House and raised slogans against the government, leading to pandemonium.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said presentation of the First Supplementary Budget was of utmost importance. He said that an agreement had already been reached during the Business Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the issue during the session. He maintained that the opposition would get ample opportunity to raise its concerns and said disrupting the House proceedings was inappropriate.
Congress Legislature Party leader Pradeep Yadav countered the opposition's allegations, asserting that the government was fully sensitive towards students' concerns. He questioned why the Leader of Opposition lacked faith in the CID when more than two dozen accused had already been sent to jail in connection with the ongoing investigations.
Yadav further remarked that the credibility of the CBI itself had come under scrutiny in recent times and suggested that the opposition should also address appointments made through the first three JPSC recruitment examinations.
Amid the uproar, the Speaker took a swipe at the opposition, asking whether the House intended to discuss the NEET issue or the JPSC controversy.
He emphasised that matters concerning agriculture and farmers also deserved serious deliberation during the session.
During the exchanges, Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu targeted Marandi, saying the Leader of Opposition should publicly reveal how many of his relatives and close associates had secured government jobs through the first and second JPSC recruitment examinations in the early years after the formation of Jharkhand.