Jharkhand CM invites students from Bihar, slams Nitish over toppers scam

Tribune News Service

Ranchi, June 26

Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Sunday slammed his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar over the state’s toppers controversy. He invited students from Bihar to study in his state.

Das asked Nitish Kumar to pay attention to the state’s education system. He said Bihar has meritorious students and they should be given due respect and better facilities.

A committee of experts of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) had conducted a re-examination of 14 students after a sting operation by a news channel showed them failing to answer rudimentary questions.

“Nitish Kumar should check the merit muddle as the failed students procure pass results by paying 10 lakh rupees. A student has to pay 15 lakh to be the state topper the SIT has claimed,” Das said.

“I urge the parents of meritorious students of Bihar to send them to Jharkhand. We would extend the basic facilities for their education,” he said.

The SIT has arrested 20 persons, including BSEB chief Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha, in the scandal. The principal of VR College, Amit Kumar, alias Bachcha Rai, is also behind bars. A case has been lodged against four toppers and other administrative officials. The Arts topper and another accused of the case were arrested yesterday.