Page 2 - Protest

SC agrees to hear plea on disruption of essential services during protests

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea which raised the issue of disruption of essential services during protests. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was told by the counsel appearing for the petitioner that essential services were disrupted when protests were underway and ingress and egress was disturbed. The counsel said there is no way of knowing who is a protestor and who is not and the issue of disruption of essential services during protests is arising across the country. "We appreciate your concerns but how to issue a direction for that," the bench told the counsel. The apex court tagged the petition with a separate pending plea which has contended that the Jantar Mantar in Delhi was no longer a suitable venue for protests as they cause inconvenience to local residents and disrupt essential services. The top court on August 3 agreed to examine the separate PIL which seeks an alternative arrangement for holding ...

Jharkhand exam stir enters Day 19, students vow to intensify agitation

Students protesting the alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations under the banner of JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch on Tuesday announced that they would continue the agitation till all demands are met. The Manch members who took part in a 'silent procession' here in the evening said they have decided to intensify the agitation, and details will be shared soon. "We hoped the state government would come out with some positive message for the students after Monday's protest, in which over 50,000 students from across the state participated," he said. "But we did not get any positive output from the government. So, we have decided to continue our agitation at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium till all our demands are met," said JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader, Ravindra Paswan, in a press conference here. Piyush Kumar, another leader, said they have now decided to intensify their protest. "We will soon announce the details of the future course of action of the protest," he said. Kumar a

Jharkhand student protest enters 18th day amid BJP bandh, ABVP march

The protest by students over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams entered its 18th day on Tuesday, with the BJP observing a state-wide bandh, while ABVP announced that it would organise a march to the state assembly during the day. The saffron party called the bandh from 8 am to midnight to protest against the police action on demonstrators during their march to Vidhan Sabha on Monday. The students and job aspirants have been agitating since July 25, demanding transparency in recruitment examinations, reforms in the functioning of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission(JSSC), cancellation of several examinations and an independent investigation by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state. Six demonstrators have also been observing an indefinite hunger strike to press their demands, with two of them hospitalised. The sixth round of talks between the Jharkhand government and the protesting

BJP calls for Jharkhand bandh over police action on protesting students

Normal life was affected in parts of Jharkhand on Tuesday as BJP workers enforced a state-wide bandh in protest against police action on job aspirants during their march to the state assembly a day ago over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Most schools and business establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was very low in the state capital Ranchi and several other cities. The shutdown, announced after the police used water cannons, tear gas and batons against protesters in Ranchi on Monday, was being observed from 8 am to midnight, with essential services kept outside its purview, BJP state president Aditya Sahu said. The BJP described the police action as "atrocities" against students and accused the JMM-led government of using force instead of addressing their grievances. The party has also backed the protesters' demand for an independent probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service .

Jharkhand protest Day 17: Police lathicharge, use water cannons on students

Aspirants clashed with police during their 'gherao' march to Jharkhand Assembly, and CID arrested ex-JPSC chairperson L Khiangte over exam irregularities. Here are the latest updates on the protest

Jharkhand Police use water cannons on student protesters in Ranchi

A large number of student protesters gathered near the Vidhan Sabha in Ranchi during the march led by JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha against the alleged irregularities in the examinations

ED initiates investigation into Jharkhand PSC exams 'irregularities' case

The Enforcement Directorate has launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in the conduct of multiple recruitment examinations in Jharkhand particularly the JSSC-CGL examination, officials said on Monday. They said the central agency has taken cognisance of a state police CID FIR and some other complaints to initiate a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Students have been agitating in the state for 16 days demanding a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, particularly the JSSC-CGL (Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination). The students have refused to call off their stir and are set to march towards the state Assembly on Monday even though the government said it has accepted "98 per cent of the demands". The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), which is at the centre of the turmoil, also saw a major shake-up on Sunday. All three JPSC members -- Ajeeta Bhattacharya, the wife of prominen

Jharkhand exam row: BJP protests outside CM residence, seeks CBI probe

BJP leaders staged a protest outside Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence here on Monday, demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state. At the sit-in led by the party's state unit chief Aditya Sahu and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, the protesters were seen raising slogans and holding up placards with demands such as "stop playing with students' future" and "recommend a CBI probe into irregularities in JPSC examination". A police official said several BJP leaders, including Sahu and Marandi, have been detained. On the other hand, BJP's Jharkhand unit spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo says he and several other leaders were under "house arrest" since 7 am. The Jharkhand government said it has conceded to "98 per cent of the demands" made by the protesting job aspirants even though the agitators claimed that it was not true. It has agreed to the cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, proposed an ED probe into alleged

Jharkhand student protest: All you need to know about Vidhan Sabha Gherao

The march to Vidhan Sabha comes after three rounds of talks between the protesters and the state government failed to resolve the dispute

TG Mohandas taken into custody over remarks on Delhi Neet protest

Right-wing commentator T G Mohandas was taken into custody in Kochi over alleged remarks on a Delhi NEET protest made in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel

3 Jharkhand PSC members resign amid protests against exam irregularities

All three members of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) resigned on Sunday amid the massive protests over the alleged irregularities in recruitment tests conducted by the agency. Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar accepted the resignation of Ajeeta Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda and Jamal Ahmad, according to a statement issued by the Lok Bhavan. The resignations came after the CID summoned the three members in connection with the allegations of irregularities, including paper leaks. On July 22, JPSC chairperson L Khiangte had tendered his resignation. Nineteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the alleged irregularities in JPSC examinations, while Khiangte has been questioned four times since July 28.

Jharkhand job exam row: Govt to hold fresh talks with protesting students

The Jharkhand government will hold a sixth round of talks with students protesting the alleged exam irregularities in the state before reaching a final decision, said a member of the panel tasked with holding dialogue with the demonstrators. The talks will be held around 12 pm, the member said after the panel held a four-hour meeting with Chief Minister Hemant Soren, appraising him about the progress achieved during the previous five rounds of dialogue with the protesters. "We apprised the chief minister of students' views and demands that came to the fore during various rounds of meetings with delegations of student unions today and the day before. "It was decided in the meeting with the chief minister that a final round of talks with protesting students will take place at 12 pm on Sunday," the panel's member and Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh told PTI. Another member, Minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, said the meeting at the chief minister's residence decided to hold

Jharkhand student protests: Talks with government fail to break impasse

The government has held back-to-back talks with protesting aspirants and student groups, but students insist the agitation will continue until the 14th JPSC exam is cancelled and other demands are met

Jharkhand student protest: Here's why JPSC, JSSC aspirants are on strike

The agitation over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams has entered its 14th day; here's what sparked the protest, what students are demanding and how the government has responded

Why should city be put to ransom? Delhi HC on Jantar Mantar protests

The Delhi HC questioned keeping Jantar Mantar as a protest site, saying the city should not be put to ransom, while asking Delhi Police to decide on a protest plea by August 8

J'khand exam protest enters Day 14, protester on hunger strike hospitalised

One of the six protesters, who have been on a hunger strike as part of a demonstration against the alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in Jharkhand, was taken to a hospital here after his health condition deteriorated on Friday, an official said. The student leader, identified as Rahul Kranti, who has been on fast since Tuesday night, was taken in an ambulance to the Ranchi Sadar hospital for treatment, he said. Earlier in the day, Kranti had said the protesters had appealed to the administration for a health check-up, but no doctors reached the demonstration site till 8.30 am. Five protesters, including two women, on Tuesday night joined Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto in his hunger strike. Mahto has been on fast for the past six days. Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently observed a 26-day hunger strike in Delhi over the NEET paper leak issue, spoke to Mahto over the phone on Wednesday and urged him to at least drink water,

CJP to launch nationwide campaign against unemployment, says Abhijeet Dipke

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday described unemployment as a major problem in the country, and said it would be taken up as a nationwide issue. He was addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the CJP's core team meeting in his hometown Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. The core team had been holding talks at Dipke's residence since Wednesday. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das, spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka and other representatives were also present at the press conference. The protests, led by CJP at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi last month over the NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities, led to Dharmendra Pradhan resigning as the Union education minister. Dipke said, "Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is the biggest achievement of the students' agitation." There were not only students but also jobless youngsters who participated in the Jantar Mantar protest, he said. "Unemployment is a major problem, we will make it a nationwi

SC says youngsters need to be pacified, law enforcement must show restraint

The Supreme Court on Wednesday underscored the need for law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint during protests and said youngsters must be pacified, even if some "misguided elements" indulge in stone-pelting, as it agreed to hear a plea seeking action against organisers of the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march for allegedly inciting violence. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana tagged the plea, filed by a retired Air Force officer, with a similar petition. Advocate Rizwan Ahmed, appearing for petitioner Maneesh Kumar Solanki, said, "Fifteen days have passed... What about the accountability of the organisers? They are going from channel to channel giving provocative statements and refusing to douse the fire". Referring to a recent law and order incident in Rajasthan, the lawyer argued that governments should not "bend backwards" to accommodate protesters. "One young man has died. If the government bends backwards in a matter ...

Will go to Jharkhand to back students' protest: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke

The Cockroach Janta Party will function as a pressure group for now, as that is what India needs at the moment, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters ahead of the CJP's core team meeting in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dipke said the discussions will focus on the dwindling trust of people in institutions like the media and judiciary. The meeting will also take up issues like ethanol-blended fuel and rising unemployment, he said. "For now, CJP will be a pressure group, as what India needs now is a pressure group," Dipke asserted. CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said activist Sonam Wangchuk will continue to be their mentor and they will seek advice from him. Das further said they will push for withdrawal of FIRs against students who took part in the recent protests led by the CJP against the NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. "We are talking with government representatives on this issue," he said. Das also said they are worki

Congress workers detained during protest over E20 fuel near Gadkari's home

Youth Congress workers held a protest in Nagpur on Monday on the issue of E20 fuel and attempted to march to the residence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in order to 'gherao' it, but were stopped by the police, resulting in several participants being detained. The 'morcha' was held from Chitnivis Park Square in Mahal here till Gadkari's private residence in the same area, with Youth Congress workers shouting slogans about the unviability of E20 fuel. There was heavy deployment of police personnel near the Union minister's house along with barricades on the route, though protesters tried to climb over them to proceed. Several Congress workers were detained, police officials said. The Congress has been targeting Gadkari on the issue of E20 fuel claiming that his reply in Parliament on July 29 on the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol raises more questions than it answers. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Monday said Gadkari claims E20 has been rolled out after years of ...