On Sunday, August 16, students in Jharkhand intensified their protest over alleged irregularities in the state’s recruitment examinations, with demonstrators burning effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi, and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav in Ranchi. The protest, led by the ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’, has entered its 23rd day, with students demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination. The state government has invited protesters for a fresh round of talks on Monday, August 17. The students took out a torchlight procession from the protest site, Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, to Albert Ekka Chowk, where they burnt the effigies. Similar protests were held in various other districts across the state. The students expressed disappointment over the ruling JMM-Congress alliance’s failure to take tangible action on their demands. The Jharkhand government’s decision to invite representatives of the protesting students for talks came after a meeting between the protesters and the Sub-Divisional Officer and Additional District Magistrate. The ‘JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch’ has accepted the government’s proposal for talks but remains firm on its demands. Leader Ravindra Paswan said the students will participate in the talks to resolve the issue through dialogue but will not relent on their demands for a CBI probe and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL exams. The proposed meeting will be the seventh round of talks between the government and the agitating students. The previous round, held on August 9, failed to yield any breakthrough. The protesters have also announced plans to gherao the chief minister’s residence on August 20 and have appealed to students from across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the demonstration. Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand assembly, Babulal Marandi, has urged Soren to accept the students’ demands and backed their call for a CBI investigation.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf