Thousands of students gathered in Ranchi on Monday morning after the sixth round of protests on Sunday failed to yield the results they had hoped for.
The students are now marching towards the state Assembly, joined by Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days and was brought in an ambulance. He was seen carrying a portrait of former Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
Armed with the tricolour and placards, demonstrators raised slogans in support of their demands as their protest entered its 17th day. The march began outside the old assembly complex in Dhurwa, with demonstrators aiming to reach the new Vidhan Sabha building.
What is the Jharkhand government saying?
The state government claims that around 98 per cent of the students' demands have been accepted. A government panel also spoke with Devendra Nath Mahto — whose condition deteriorated early on Sunday after eight days on an indefinite hunger strike — and urged him to end his fast. The government stated that elaborate security arrangements have been made and assured that no student will be harassed during the protest.
What are the demands of the students?
- JSSC-CGL examination cancellation: The students want the JSSC-CGL examination to be cancelled. According to media reports, this remains one of the primary unresolved issues. The government maintains that because the examination was conducted under the supervision of the High Court and Supreme Court, the legal position regarding cancelling the exam or directly ordering a CBI probe is complicated. As things stand, the two sides have found no middle ground on this matter.
- JPSC exam cancellation: The government has agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC as well as the ACF examination, according to Hindi news reports.
- CBI probe into the JSSC-CGL case: The students' key demand is a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the JSSC-CGL examination. While the government has proposed an ED investigation into financial irregularities alongside an inquiry committee headed by a retired High Court judge, the students remain steadfast that the central agency's involvement is required to ensure a fair and comprehensive investigation.
- Reforms in the recruitment process: The students are demanding far-reaching changes across the entire recruitment examination ecosystem. The government has agreed to set up an expert committee for this purpose, which will include representatives from IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and IIM Ranchi.
- Recruitment calendar: The students want a fixed recruitment calendar for Jharkhand government recruitment examinations to be established and strictly followed, ensuring that tests and appointments are completed on time.
