The ongoing student protests in Jharkhand intensified on Friday as student leader Devendra Nath Mahto continued his indefinite hunger strike for the sixth consecutive day, while the BJP stepped up pressure on the Hemant Soren government by demanding a court-monitored CBI probe into alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations.
Speaking to ANI, Mahto accused the state government of being "extremely insensitive" towards students and reiterated that the agitation would continue until concrete action is taken.
"My face reveals my health. I am only able to hear, think and speak a little. The rest of my organs are not able to support me. Looking at the government's attitude, it is extremely insensitive towards students. We will together formulate a system in which rigging and paper leaks are impossible," he said.
Mahto has refused to end his fast and has only begun consuming water and salt on the advice of activist Sonam Wangchuk.
The protests began over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), including the JSSC CGL, JSSC JE and PGT exams.
Gathered at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, students have demanded the cancellation of all JSSC CGL, JSSC JE and PGT examinations held since 2019, a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities, strict action against those involved in paper leaks and recruitment scams, disclosure of category-wise cut-offs, OMR sheets and response sheets, and a transparent recruitment calendar on the lines of UPSC and SSC.
As the deadlock with the government continues, the protesters have also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, alleging he is "unfit" to remain in office.
The Jharkhand government had earlier reached out to the protesters for dialogue. On Friday, state minister Chamra Linda said discussions are expected to begin soon.
"Everything is being done after due consideration and is moving towards a solution. Talks will be held, and discussions are expected to begin today," Linda told ANI.
Political reactions have also intensified. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the protesting students on Thursday and assured them he would take up their demands with the state government. Congress is a partner in the JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged Hemant Soren to engage directly with the students.
"He should call them, hold talks with them, and if anything wrong has actually happened, take action against those responsible, just as we did here," Abdullah said.
The BJP also disrupted proceedings in the Jharkhand Assembly on Friday, demanding a court-monitored CBI probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities. Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the state government of failing to ensure a fair recruitment process, while Congress opposed the demand, alleging that the CBI had lost its credibility and become a tool of the Centre.
In a related development, another protester, Rahul Kranti, who had been on a hunger strike for four days, was shifted to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences after his health deteriorated due to weakness and fever.
The protests continue amid growing political pressure on the state government to address students' concerns over transparency and fairness in recruitment examinations.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, has expressed full solidarity with the ongoing students' protest in Jharkhand.
"We extend our full support to the protest. Our delegation has already reached there; our people are distributing food to the protesters. We stand firmly with them and support all their demands... I, too, intend to go," he told reporters.
"Many students are stepping forward to protest. I believe they are leaders in their own right and deserve visibility. It isn't necessary for Abhijit to be at the forefront everywhere. They are doing the work, too, and deserve equal recognition... We don't want the credit to go solely to CJP. We want students to step up and protest themselves. We want them to fight for their rights and for the country's education system," he added further.
