Tezzbuzz Desk- The politics of Jharkhand has heated up due to the student movement in Ranchi. After the allegations leveled against Rahul Gandhi by BJP state president Aditya Sahu, four ministers from Congress quota hit back at BJP by holding a joint press conference. Rejecting the allegations, the ministers said that BJP is promoting political confrontation instead of discussing the students' issue.
Minister Radhakrishna Kishore said that the Assembly session had been called and the government was ready to discuss the students' issue in the House. But, according to him, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi along with his MLAs sat on strike outside the Chief Minister's residence since morning. He alleged that BJP did not intend to discuss the problems of students.
He said that the government was not in favor of using force or violence against the agitating students. The administration exercised restraint in the entire matter. The minister also claimed that the agitating students themselves had talked about outsiders joining the movement.
Radhakrishna Kishore also targeted former Chief Ministers of BJP. Referring to the coal workers movement, he alleged that eight agitators were killed in police action on February 2, 2001. He also mentioned the police action in the protests that took place during the tenure of Arjun Munda and Raghuvar Das.
Minister raised questions on demand for CBI investigation
On the demand for a CBI investigation into the matters related to the student movement, Minister Deepika Pandey Singh said that she has also been included in the delegation that talked to the students on behalf of the government. He said that the government is taking the demands of the students seriously and the path of dialogue is being adopted for the solution.
Regarding the CBI investigation, he claimed that after 2015, the investigation of many examination related cases was handed over to the agency, but in many cases questions have been raised on the progress of the investigation. He raised questions on the investigation process of CBI, citing examples of cases related to NEET UG 2024, UGC NET 2024, SSC CGL 2017, JEE Main 2021 and other examinations.
Irfan Ansari defends Rahul Gandhi
Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari rejected the allegations made by BJP State President Rahul Gandhi and said that Rahul Gandhi has been continuously raising the voice of the students. He said that Rahul Gandhi is against any kind of violence and wants to solve the problems of students through dialogue.
The Health Minister also said that the government is making arrangements for the treatment of students falling ill during the agitation and he himself is meeting the unwell students.
BJP accused of making the movement violent
Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey accused BJP of trying to take the student movement in a violent direction. He said that Rahul Gandhi spoke to the agitating students and condemned the police action.
Citing the old tenure of BJP, he also mentioned the Pathalgadi case and alleged that during that time, cases were registered against a large number of tribal youth under serious sections.
Congress ministers said that the government is in favor of finding a solution to the demands of the students through talks and any attempt to disturb the peace in the state will be opposed.