Close House if we cannot solve issue: Jharkhand Assembly Speaker

Jharkhand Assembly speaker Dinesh Oraon on Monday expressed anguish over the state government's failure to come up with a solution for the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) issue being raised since 2015.

"Close the House if we do not come up with a solution. I have my own limitations. The sanctity of the House should be maintained. The JPSC issue is being raised since 2015. Even after four years, we have failed to come up with a solution," said the Speaker.

"Why is only the JPSC issue being raised repeatedly? Why are other issues not being raised?" he asked.

When the House assembled at 11 a.m. on Monday, legislators of the ruling and opposition parties demanded that the JPSC mains examination be postponed as there were several irregularities.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator and Leader of Opposition Hemant Soren said, "More than 34,000 students passed the JPSC preliminary examination and only 27,000 have been issued admit cards for the mains examination. Also, the subjects opted for by students have changed in their admit cards. The state government should postpone the mains examination and rectify the irregularities and then conduct the exam."

Members of the opposition parties in chorus demanded that the JPSC exams be postponed. The exams began on Monday.

"When the state government can hold talks with Maoists, then why can't they talk to protesting students?" asked Pradeep Yadav, a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislator.

Ruling BJP legislator Radha Krishna Kishore said, "There are several irregularities and the examinations should be postponed till the anomalies are cleared."

The Opposition members demanded that the Speaker should listen to his heart and help students who are protesting against the irregularities.

Later Parliamentary Affairs Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda informed the House that Jharkhand High Court, while hearing the issue, refused to stay the examination.

The opposition members rushed to the well of the House forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till noon.

When the House assembled again at noon, the opposition members again rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans demanding the exams be postponed.

The Speaker then adjourned the House till 2 pm.

IANS

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