The Congress and the JMM, coalition partners in the ruling dispensation, are planning the launch of a major offensive against the Centre’s decision to go ahead with JEE and NEET scheduled next month.

On Friday, the Jharkhand Congress unit will hold statewide protests outside Union government establishments to press for the postponement of the exams in wake of the rise in Covid-19 cases across the country, including in the state. JMM, on the other hand, said that it too was strongly backing calls for postponing the exams.

Jharkhand Congress president Rameshwar Oraon said: “All our units will stage demonstrations while maintaining social distancing outside Government of India entities to make our voices heard. The Centre’s indifference towards the safety of students and the public must end.”

JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharjee at a news conference accused the Narendra Modi government of being unconcerned about the growing clamour for postponement of the exams as it involved the aam aadmi.

“The Modi government is only concerned about corporates. Since only students belonging to the lower, middle and upper middle classes take the competitive tests, the Union government isn’t concerned about their safety,” said Bhattacharjee.

He added: “When Covid-19 cases were touching the 10,000 mark per day nationally, the Union government postponed the exams twice but when the caseload is now nearing one lakh, exams are being held. What an irony. This shows the shoddy planning by policymakers in the Modi government.”

Bhattacharjee warned the Union human resource development minister to be prepared to face the people’s ire and criminal-negligence cases if any untoward incident occurs during the exams.

“The nation will not pardon the government if any fresh Covid-19 infections or mortalities take place because of the exams,” Bhattacharjee said while drawing the Centre’s attention to the closure of public transports, hotels, lodges, etc. which will lead to chaos for examinees.

He said that in Jharkhand, exams centres were located in only five districts—Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Hazaribagh. “This means several students will have to travel from one district to another in private vehicles. Can poor students afford this?” he asked.