Sticky confrontation of the Opposition parties seeking abolition of Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) introduced by the JPSC for the State Civil Services aspirants ate up entire proceeding of the Assembly on Thursday.
Members from JMM, Congress and JVM consistently raised their voice claiming the test would ruin prospects of the students belonging to Jharkhand into the State’s most respected examination.
The protest did not allow Question Hour, Zero Hour and other determined businesses listed for the penultimate day to run and forced three adjournments one after another pre-lunch. The Opposition wanted to bring ‘Adjournment Motion’ to discuss the issue which got declined by Speaker Dinesh Oraon. He instead suggested for bringing a ‘Call Attention Motion’ and proposed special discussion on the matter on Friday but in vein.
“The kind of merit students of the State have, they cannot qualify the test. CSAT is not even made compulsory by the UPSC. It is nothing but a conspiracy against the students of the State. If made applicable, it would be cheating our own students. The Government’s intention is to fill administrative posts with the students from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,” said leader of Opposition Hemant Soren while pressing for the Adjournment Motion. JMM’s Stephen Marandi and JVM’s Pradeep Yadav also chipped in with sloganeering and came into the Well with others.
Amid din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Saryu Roy tried to pacify the members and invited them for proper discussion on pros and cons of the test. “The Cabinet had taken the decision during the previous regime under the present leader of Opposition which was based on the recommendations of a committee. If the members feel there is anything averse to the interest of the local students it should be brought up properly. The Government is ready to relook into it,” said the Minister and invited even delegations of the students for a deliberation.
Pushed on the backfoot, Hemant Soren said the committee was formed by his predecessor and if anything had been done wrong it should be corrected now. However, this could not pacify the stubborn Opposition which irked Chief Minister Raghubar Das. “In a democracy everyone has a right to express view. But minority cannot dictate terms to a majority Government that is elected by the people. We are more worried about future of the students while you are just shedding crocodile tears,” said the infuriated CM.
During intermitting period Sayu Roy said outside that the Government was open to any fruitful and logical suggestion regarding CSAT. “We are ready for a consultation and invite those who have any objection. We may also consult UPSC to know their pattern. But I am unable to understand the problem when matriculation level questions of maths, logic and English would be asked in the CAST! Why the Opposition members feel that our students are not that meritorious and doubt their abilities,” asked Roy.
JPSC is slated to conduct forthcoming preliminary exam for State Civil Service based on CSAT which would test communication, analytical and comprehension skills of the applications; considered to be a need of the hour in changing nature of the service. UPSC conducts examination based on CSAT nevertheless has made English language test just qualifying in nature.