Jharkhand students step up protests, seek CM Soren's resignation over exam irregularities

Ranchi, August 15: Student protesters in Jharkhand have intensified their agitation over alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and accusing the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress alliance of failing to address their concerns.

The protesters, organised under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, have been demonstrating for 22 days. On Saturday, they took out a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Ranchi to mark the country's 80th Independence Day, while also pressing for transparency and reforms in the examination system. The march began at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the site of the ongoing sit-in, and concluded at Albert Ekka Chowk.

Thousands of students and job aspirants participated, including two wheelchair-borne demonstrators who are on a fast. Carrying national flags, the marchers raised patriotic slogans such as 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram'.

Addressing the gathering, Manch leader Ravindra Paswan announced that the protesters would gherao the Chief Minister's residence on August 20 to demand his resignation. He also called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if, in his words, “the CM is not listening” to the students.

“We will gherao the Chief Minister's residence on August 20. We seek his resignation as both the JMM and the Congress are playing politics with us. We also demand that Rahul Gandhi withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the CM is not listening to him,” Paswan said.

The protesters have also announced plans to burn effigies of Chief Minister Soren and Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of the state on Sunday, August 16. They allege that the ruling alliance has “failed to take concrete action” on their demands.

The core demands of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch include the cancellation of examinations in which irregularities are alleged, and an independent probe into the recruitment process. The platform has sought a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand. Specifically, they want the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations that they consider suspicious.

The protesters have appealed to students across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the proposed gherao on August 20. They have stated that the agitation will continue until their demands are met.

The student leaders also criticised Rahul Gandhi, noting that while he had expressed support for the students' cause, “no concrete action” has followed. They have demanded that the Congress withdraw support from the JMM-led government if it is unwilling to act on the concerns raised.

“We demanded CM Hemant Soren's resignation as the government failed to cancel JSSC-CGL and the JPSC examinations in which irregularities were found,” the student leader said.

The protests come amid a broader debate over the integrity of state recruitment examinations. The government has not yet issued an official response to the latest announcements by the protesters. The situation is expected to escalate as the August 20 gherao approaches.