Jharkhand students' protest over job exam anomalies enters 20th day amid deadlock

The students protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand entered its 20th day on Thursday with the agitators refusing to call off the stir until their demands are addressedThe JPSCJSSC Reforms Manch has been demonstrating at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi seeking greater transparency in recruitment examinations cancellation of several tests and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired judges from outside JharkhandThe protesters have maintained that an independent investigation is necessary to establish whether irregularities took place in the recruitment process and to ensure that future examinations are conducted transparentlyRaghubar Das threatens hunger strike over CBI probeFormer chief minister Raghubar Das on Wednesday threatened to go on a hunger strike if the demand for a CBI probe was not fulfilled within a weekDas also sought compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the families of 19 people who died during the 2024 excise constable physical examinationThe demand for an independent investigation has also received support from the ABVP which has announced protests at more than 1200 universities over the issueABVP leaders have questioned the credibility of the stateappointed SIT investigating the alleged irregularities citing repeated changes in its compositionThe BJP has accused the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand of attempting to suppress the students movementPolitical parties trade allegations over agitationThe Congress however accused the BJP of politicising the students agitation The party also alleged that the BJP brought workers from outside the state to disrupt the protestsThe political dispute has added another layer to the students movement with the ruling and opposition parties trading allegations over the handling of the agitation and the governments response to the protesters demandsThe students protest has continued despite several rounds of discussions between the government and student representativesPolice action triggers confrontation and statewide bandhTensions escalated on Monday when protesters marching towards the assembly clashed with police personnel Security forces used batons water cannons and tear gas to disperse the agitatorsThe police action triggered further political opposition with the BJP subsequently observing a statewide bandh in protestThe confrontation has become a major point of contention between the government and opposition parties while the students have continued to press for action on their demandsHunger strikers receive medical treatmentMeanwhile JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto who has been on a hunger strike and is undergoing treatment at a hospital after his health deteriorated sought permission from the Ranchi civil surgeon to return to the protest siteMahto said his soul remained with the students movement and sought permission to rejoin the protestersFour students who were also on hunger strike were receiving treatment at a hospital officials saidThe health of the hunger strikers has added to concerns surrounding the prolonged agitation which has now entered its third weekSix rounds of talks fail to break deadlockEarlier six rounds of talks between the government and student representatives failed to end the deadlockChief Minister Hemant Soren has maintained that his government is committed to reforms in recruitment examinations He has also assured protesters that the 14th JPSC examination would be cancelledSoren has however accused the BJP of using the students agitation for political gainsWith the protest entering its 20th day the students continue to demand an independent investigation greater transparency in the recruitment process and action on the examinations they have questioned The failure of talks so far has left the two sides at an impasse with protesters refusing to end the agitation until their demands are metWith inputs from PTI