The agitation by Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) aspirants entered its 23rd day in Ranchi on Sunday, with student leaders announcing plans to intensify their protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Protesters said they would gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence on August 20 and demanded his resignation if their demands were not met.
At Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, student leader Prem Nayak, who has been on hunger strike for 13 days, said the government had failed to take the agitation seriously. Nayak, who developed a fever, said his health had deteriorated but claimed he refused medical treatment.
The protesters are demanding cancellation of the JSSC CGL examination and the JPSC 11th to 13th examinations, along with a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities. They have also demanded Soren’s resignation if their demands are not accepted.
Student leader Ravindra Paswan urged Soren to engage directly with the protesters, while leaders said they were considering further actions, including a “Jail Bharo Andolan” and closure of schools and colleges.
The protesters also planned to burn effigies of Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at all 24 district headquarters. They said the agitation would be intensified if the government failed to address their demands.
