Jharkhand Student Protest: Govt Holds First Talks, Agitation To Continue

The first round of talks between the Jharkhand government and students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations ended on a positive note on Friday, but failed to resolve the standoff.

The protesters said their agitation would continue until the government addresses their key demands, including cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination and an independent probe into alleged irregularities.

The students have also warned that they will proceed with their planned march to the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 if the government fails to provide concrete assurances by Sunday.

Students Seek Cancellation Of 14th JPSC Exam

The meeting involved a 10-member delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch and a government panel led by Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar.

The delegation was finalised after protesters submitted a revised list of representatives, replacing an earlier 11-member panel that the government had objected to because it included an advocate.

Following the meeting, JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch core committee member Ravindra Paswan described the talks as positive but said the protesters were still waiting for a clear commitment.

“We met the government. The meeting was positive. We want an assurance, and they will convey our message to the chief minister. We will meet again soon,” Paswan said.

He added that the protest would continue for now, although the August 10 Assembly march could be reconsidered if the government gives a satisfactory response.

The students are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

They are also seeking comprehensive reforms in the functioning of the JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Jharkhand Government Signals Willingness To Engage

After the meeting, the state government said it was taking the students’ concerns seriously.

“We met the students’ delegation and are sensitive to their concerns. We are ready to consider their demands sympathetically, and the outcome will be visible soon,” Education Minister Dipika Pandey Singh told reporters.

She added that the students’ demands had been conveyed to Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

“The chief minister is concerned about students and an outcome will come soon,” she said.

Soren had earlier invited the protesters for dialogue, saying students were free to raise their grievances with the government.

“We are ready to hold talks. Every student in the state is welcome to place their grievances before us. We will move ahead with strong reforms in line with students’ demands,” he had said.

Hunger Strike Continues

The agitation, launched on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, entered its 15th day on Saturday, with several protesters continuing an indefinite hunger strike.

Concerns over the health of the protesters grew after student leader Rahul Kranti, one of six people fasting, was hospitalised after his condition deteriorated. He had reportedly been on hunger strike since Tuesday night.

Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi visited Kranti at the hospital and appealed to the protesters not to endanger their health.

Health Minister Irfan Ansari also met Kranti on the Chief Minister’s instructions and said he was receiving medical treatment under specialist supervision.

Kranti had earlier alleged that doctors did not visit the protest site despite repeated requests until Friday morning.

Another Student Group Invited For Talks

Meanwhile, a separate group led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto said it had also been invited for discussions.

The group submitted the names of an eight-member delegation and said it had been called for talks at the state guest house at 10 am on Saturday.

Before the meeting, Mahto questioned the need for a separate round of talks, arguing that the government could have addressed the demands raised by the other delegation.

“It doesn’t matter how many of us go to meet them. All of us have the same demands, which should be fulfilled,” he said.

Political Support Grows

The student agitation has also attracted support from political and social organisations.

Jayant Jaipal Singh, son of tribal leader Jaipal Singh Munda, visited the protest site and backed the students’ demand for fair recruitment examinations. He also appealed to protesters to keep “bad elements, miscreants and outsiders” away from the movement.

Two Left-backed student organisations, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), separately marched towards the Assembly in solidarity with the protesters.

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch clarified that it was not involved in the march but welcomed moral support from other groups.

The march was briefly disrupted near Birsa Chowk after AISA national president Neha Bora was allegedly targeted with ink. Police detained the accused, identified as Amarnath Pandey, for questioning.

Bora described the incident as an attempt to intimidate the student movement. The BJP called the allegation a “stage-managed drama”, while the ABVP denied involvement and condemned the incident.

Assembly Disrupted Over Recruitment Row

The issue also reached the Jharkhand Assembly, where BJP legislators disrupted proceedings while demanding a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities. The House was subsequently adjourned for the day.

Earlier, Minister Sudivya Kumar accused the BJP and the “coaching mafia” of trying to politically hijack a genuine student movement, while urging protesters to continue talks with the government.

Ahead of the planned August 10 march, prohibitory orders have been imposed within a 750-metre radius of the Assembly from August 6 to 12, between 6 am and 10 pm.

So far, 19 people have been arrested in connection with the alleged JPSC examination irregularities. Former JPSC chairman L Khiangte has also been questioned four times since July 28.

With the first round of talks failing to produce a concrete resolution, the government now faces pressure to respond to the protesters’ demands before the August 10 Assembly march.