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Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday condemned violence against students participating in protests in Jharkhand over the alleged irregularities in the state recruitment exams, asserting that peaceful demonstrations should not be met with force.
Gandhi told reporters here, "My message is clear for the students of Jharkhand. We condemn any violence against peacefully protesting students. It does not matter where it is happening; we condemn it, we are against it, we do not recommend it, we do not support it. We are very clear; there is no confusion in our mind that attacking a peaceful protest with violence is wrong." Rahul Gandhi's remarks came amid clashes between student protesters and police during the 'Vidhan Sabha Gherao' march in Ranchi today. The march was organised by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Police used tear gas shells, water cannons and lathi charge after a section of protesters allegedly attempted to breach barricades while marching towards the Jharkhand Assembly. Student leader Ravindra Paswan appealed for restraint and said the protesters wanted to pursue their demands peacefully and through constitutional means. "We are peaceful. Students are adamant about their issues. A few anti-social elements are attempting to take the protest in a different direction. But we, the students, are supporting our issue," Paswan told ANI. Ranchi City Superintendent of Police Paras Rana said most students were peaceful, but alleged that a section of protesters damaged barricades and pelted stones at police personnel. "90 per cent of the students are peaceful, but 10 per cent are paying no heed to anyone," Rana said, adding that police had exercised restraint because the protesters were students. The protesting aspirants are demanding cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, a CBI probe into alleged irregularities and reforms in the recruitment process. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on hunger strike for nine days, also joined the march. He said the agitation had become a "mass movement" and would continue until the students' demands were addressed. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the examination irregularities (ANI)
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