The Bharatiya Janata Party has called for a statewide bandh on Tuesday over the police action against students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Ranchi.
BJP state president Aditya Sahu launched a sharp attack on the Hemant Soren government, alleging that hundreds of students were injured after police resorted to lathicharge and fired tear gas shells.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Sahu said the decision to call for a statewide bandh was driven by the “injustice and atrocities” faced by the students.
“Taking advantage of the darkness of night, and even in broad daylight, tear gas shells and other projectiles were fired, leaving hundreds of children injured. They are our children. That is why, in their support, BJP workers will take to the streets tomorrow (Tuesday) and bring Jharkhand to a standstill,” Sahu said.
The police action also drew criticism from the Congress, which is an ally of the ruling JMM. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said peaceful protests should not be met with violence.
His remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, which accused him of double standards, apparently referring to his demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation over police action against protesting students in Delhi. Union minister J.P. Nadda alleged that Gandhi was an integral part of the Jharkhand government and questioned whether he could hear the students’ voices.
Police used water cannons and resorted to lathicharge to prevent protesting students from taking out a march to the state assembly on Monday. Clashes between protesters and police personnel took place in Ranchi during the day after thousands of job aspirants breached multiple barricades while marching towards the assembly, where the monsoon session was underway.
The agitators alleged that several students, including women, were injured in the police action, while Ranchi SSP said 14 police personnel were injured in stone-pelting incidents. He added that CCTV footage would be analysed to identify miscreants who disrupted the “peaceful” protests.
Meanwhile, the health condition of JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days over the issue, deteriorated during Monday’s march. He was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after his blood sugar level dropped “drastically”.
Despite his frail health, Mahto joined the march in an ambulance, carrying a portrait of former chief minister Shibu Soren. He later addressed the protesters while lying on a stretcher. His aide alleged that Mahto was injured during the police action.
