Jharkhand protesters to gherao Hemant Soren’s residence, demand his resignation

Students, protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, on Saturday accused the ruling JMM and the Congress of playing politics over their issues, and announced that they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation.

The protesters also said that they would burn effigies of the chief minister and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts of the state on Sunday, alleging that the ruling JMM-Congress alliance "failed to take concrete action" on their demands. They also demanded that Rahul withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if the "CM is not listening" to him.

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They took out a 'Tiranga Yatra' in Ranchi on Saturday to mark the country's 80th Independence Day and to press their demand for greater transparency and reforms in the recruitment examination system.

Students vow to intensify protest

The protest under JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch entered its 22nd day, with thousands of students and job aspirants, including two wheelchair-borne demonstrators who were on fast, participating in the 'Tiranga Yatra' from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the site of the ongoing agitation, to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi. Carrying the national flags, the protesters raised slogans such as “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”.

“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,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.

The protesters said they would not withdraw the demonstration until the government addresses their demands, including cancellation of examinations in which alleged irregularities were found, and an independent probe into the recruitment process.

The platform of the protesting students has sought a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand into the alleged exam irregularities.

The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has also demanded cancellation of the JSSC-CGL test and certain Jharkhand PSC examinations that it considers suspicious.

'Congress should withdraw support'

The protesters appealed to students across Jharkhand to assemble in Ranchi for the proposed gherao of the CM's residence on August 20 and said they would not withdraw agitation until their demands are met.

They also targeted Rahul Gandhi, saying he had expressed support for students but that "no concrete action" had followed. The students' platform demanded that Congress withdraw support from the JMM-led government if it is unwilling to act on their concerns.

"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.

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JLKM leader Devendra Mahto, who has been on a fast for 14 days, alleged that the police prevented him from leaving Sadar Hospital to participate in the march. Videos purportedly showing Mahto scuffling with security personnel while attempting to leave the hospital were widely circulated on social media.

The protesters maintained that their movement was not limited to certain examinations but concerned the credibility of the entire recruitment system and the future of thousands of young job aspirants.

“Independence doesn't just mean freedom from the British, but also freedom from inequality of opportunities, corruption and injustice,” the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch said, urging young people to raise their voices peacefully for their rights.