Jharkhand House adjourned twice amid BJP protest over students' baton charge

BJP MLAs on Tuesday, Aug 11 created a ruckus in the Jharkhand assembly over the baton charge on students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in the state, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House twice.

Opposition MLAs trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the JMM-led government over Monday's police action on the protesting job aspirants. Despite repeated requests by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato, the BJP legislators were in no mood to return to their seats. Mahato adjourned proceedings twice — first till noon and then till 2 pm.

As the House reassembled after noon, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi sought Chief Minister Hemant Soren's response on the alleged atrocities on students, including baton charge, tear gas shelling and use of water cannon.

Earlier, Congress MLA Pradip Yadav raised the issue of the students' protest and alleged that BJP-backed miscreants had indulged in violence during the peaceful demonstration by job aspirants. Reacting to this, the BJP began its demonstration in the well of the House, leading to the adjournment.

Thousands of job aspirants had marched towards the assembly, breached multiple barricades and clashed with police personnel on Monday. Police used water cannons near Jagannathpur Temple and fired tear gas shells as protesters moved towards the assembly. Several protesters claimed they were injured, while Ranchi police said 14 policemen suffered injuries during the protests.

Students and job aspirants have been agitating since July 25, demanding transparency in recruitment examinations, reforms in the functioning of the JPSC and JSSC, cancellation of several examinations, and an independent investigation by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The BJP alleged that students had been treated like criminals during the protest march and claimed several demonstrators were injured.