New Delhi: An indefinite protest by students has been underway for some time in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, over alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations. Several rounds of talks have taken place between the protesting students and the state government, but no outcome has been reached so far. The protesting students have also accused the government of not taking the matter seriously.
The students have announced plans to take the agitation to the next level. They have declared that they will burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday. The protesting students have also issued a warning that they will lay siege to the Chief Minister’s residence on August 20. Overall, the students’ protest continues to escalate, and everyone is waiting to see when a middle ground might be found.
Continuous Protests by Students
Students in Ranchi have been protesting for quite some time against the irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations. Candidates are demanding the cancellation of the JSSC and CGL exams and a CBI inquiry into the entire matter. In this context, a large number of youths plan to reach the Chief Minister’s residence on August 20 to stage a sit-in and demand answers.
Before this—specifically today, Sunday student organisations have scheduled the burning of effigies of CM Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi across all districts of the state. For the first time during the agitation, a demand for the Chief Minister’s resignation has also been raised by the students. Meanwhile, the JPSC-JSSC Sudhar Manch (Reform Forum) has stated that the Chief Minister’s residence will be besieged on August 20 to protest against the alleged irregularities in the recruitment exams.
Devendra Nath Mahto’s Hunger Strike Continues
The hunger strike by Devendra Nath Mahto, who is admitted to a hospital in Ranchi, is still ongoing. He has been hospitalised for the past five days, and today marks the 14th day of his hunger strike. Instead of staying on his hospital bed, he is staging his protest while lying on the floor of the hospital corridor. According to the students, the agitation will continue in full force until the government takes a concrete decision regarding their key demands.
Regarding the inclusion of Rahul Gandhi’s name in the effigy-burning protests, students argued that while the Congress party had promised support, action on their demands fell short of expectations. Driven by this dissatisfaction, student leaders have planned to burn effigies of CM Hemant Soren and Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts.
Government Assures Reforms in the Examination System
The Jharkhand government has also responded to the students’ grievances. CM Hemant Soren has assured that transparency in recruitment examinations will be ensured and the system improved. According to the state government, efforts will be made to resolve the students’ issues through dialogue.
