Kathmandu— Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi and several leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were detained by police in Ranchi, Jharkhand on August 10th while protesting alleged irregularities within the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The demonstrations occurred outside the Chief Minister’s residence as a separate protest led by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha was underway at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, demanding reforms to the state's recruitment process. BJP officials have called for a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities and criticized the government’s response to the ongoing student protests.

Protestors Demand Investigation

Babulal Marandi stated that students are continuing their protest, but the government is distracting people, calling for a CBI investigation into the JPSC-JSSC-CGL exams. The demonstrations followed a party meeting in Ranchi and coincided with a ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ march organized by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha. Protestors maintain that key demands – including cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities, and reforms to the recruitment process – have not been fully addressed by the state government.

BJP Accusations and Warnings

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo warned the Jharkhand government against taking police action against student protesters. He urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to accept the demands of the protestors, alleging that party MP Aditya Sahu was under house arrest. Deo also criticized the government for not cancelling the exam conducted by TDPL, an outsourcing agency currently under scrutiny, and for avoiding a CBI probe. “Today is Chief Minister Hemant Soren's birthday,” he said. “The students and their parents have already given you a birthday gift by bringing you back to power. Today is the time for a return gift; you should fulfil the demands of the students.”

Escalating Security Concerns

Deo further alleged that authorities had deployed heavy security measures, including barbed wire and RAF personnel with pellet guns, in anticipation of the protests. He warned that any use of force against protestors would be met with a response from BJP workers, holding the government accountable for any consequences. “Are you trying to show a reign of terror?” he asked. “This is a students' protest, and we do not want to give it a political colour.”

The situation remains tense as student protestors continue to demand action regarding alleged irregularities in state commission exams and the fulfillment of their demands for reform.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.