The All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) has issued a scathing indictment of the Hemant Soren-led JMM government, asserting that it has forfeited its moral right to seek votes from the public. Sanjay Mehta, a prominent leader of AJSU, has articulated that the government’s tenure has been marked by a complete failure to meet its key electoral commitments.
According to Mehta, the administration has faltered significantly in crucial areas such as job creation, effective recruitment processes, fair rehabilitation of displaced populations, improvement of the education system, enforcement of law and order, and the realization of social justice for all. He emphasized that the trust placed in the government by the citizens of Jharkhand has been systematically betrayed.
The government’s unfulfilled promises are extensive. They include substantial job generation, implementation of a robust local employment policy, and the provision of reservation for local candidates in private sector jobs. Significant inaction has also been noted in areas like teacher hirings, preventing student emigration for studies, addressing recurrent paper leaks in examinations, and regularizing the employment of contract staff. Furthermore, Mehta highlighted the government’s neglect of vital tribal issues, such as the implementation of the PESA Act, the formal recognition of the Sarna religious code, and the enhancement of Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation quotas.
Focusing on the Ghatshila constituency, Mehta stated that the government has no developmental achievements to showcase to the voters there, rendering its campaign efforts ethically bankrupt. He claimed that the aspirations of the Ghatshila electorate have been met with a barrage of unfulfilled promises and superficial assurances, while pressing issues like unemployment, the quality of education, and the availability of essential amenities continue to be neglected. Therefore, Mehta argued, the JMM and its allied parties have no legitimate basis to seek votes in the upcoming Ghatshila by-election.
The government’s failure to provide unemployment stipends, as promised, is another key criticism. Recruitment processes remain mired in delays, and the sanctity of examinations is compromised by frequent paper leaks. Scholarship programs for students are not reaching beneficiaries effectively. Rehabilitation efforts for those displaced by development projects are lacking clarity, and the state’s law and order situation is deteriorating. Crucial promises concerning tribal rights and local employment reservations remain unmet. Corruption is reportedly rampant, and the long-standing demands of contract workers for regularization and equal pay are still pending. Mehta concluded by challenging the government to present any valid justification for seeking public mandate and called for the electorate to decisively reject this administration. AJSU reiterated its commitment to advocating for the people’s rights and fostering development in Jharkhand.