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Jharkhand Students' Protest: Hunger strike over exam 'anomaly' continues as CM Soren offers talks, BJP steps up attack
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Students intensified their protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand with five demonstrators joining an indefinite hunger strike, even as Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said the question paper leak issues are a national problem and offered talks to resolve the impasse.The protest, which began on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium here, emerged as one of the biggest student-led movements in the state in recent years.Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSThe students are demanding the cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination, a comprehensive investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities, and significant reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).The students initiated a hunger strike as an extreme form of protest after their repeated appeals to the government regarding the alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations went unaddressed, leaving them with no other option.The Jharkhand government, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has acknowledged the issues raised by the students and offered to hold discussions to address their concerns, while also highlighting that recruitment irregularities are a significant national problem.Devendra Nath Mahto is a student leader and prominent figure in the Jharkhand protests. He has been on a hunger strike to draw attention to the demands for accountability and reforms in the recruitment process, symbolizing the students' struggle.Authorities are conducting a CID investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities, which has already led to the arrest of individuals linked to the issue, and have postponed ongoing examinations as part of their response.The demonstrators are demanding cancellation of the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment test either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or by a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state.They also stressed comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).Ahead of the monsoon session of the state assembly, five protesters, including two women, joined Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past four days.Mahto's health became a matter of concern after his blood sugar and pressure levels dropped significantly.Social activist Sonam Wangchuk, who recently observed a 26-day hunger strike in Delhi over the NEET paper leak issue, spoke to Mahto over the phone and urged him to at least drink water to safeguard his health. Following Wangchuk's appeal, Mahto agreed to end his complete fast by drinking water while continuing his indefinite protest.The protesters said they had been forced to adopt the extreme form of agitation after repeated appeals to the government "failed" to produce any concrete action."Our five friends, including two women, have joined the hunger strike to strengthen the movement and press for our demands," said JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch spokesperson Jivan Kumar.One of the fasting protesters, Sabita Kumari, said the government had "ignored" students' concerns, leaving them with no alternative but to intensify their agitation.Govt initiats efforts to break the deadlockAs the agitation gained momentum, the state administration initiated efforts to break the deadlock through dialogue.Ranchi Sub-Divisional Officer Kumar Rajat and Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Dhananjay Kumar visited the protest site and invited a five-member delegation of students for discussions at the CM's residence."The students have sought some time to deliberate on the proposal," the SDO said.Reacting to the administration's appeal for discussion, student leader Ravindra Paswan said, "We demand t
In the days following the strategy meet, CJP will reach out to its volunteers across the country and organise a nationwide listening tour to take into account the needs and aspirations of the youth in light of the resounding success of its Jantar Mantar protestAbhijeet Dipke, head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reacts during an interview at his home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, India, August 4, 2026. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas(REUTERS)The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) will begin the two-day meeting of its core team at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra today. The session will bring together CJP's founder, spokespersons, and organisational leadership to discuss and contemplate the next steps for the youth movement.CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the organisation's meeting will review its recent Jantar Mantar protest, discuss organisational expansion and chart its future roadmap, while reiterating that there is no proposal at present to convert the group into a political party.He said the meeting would begin with a discussion on the Jantar Mantar protest and feedback from participants on how future programmes could be improved. He said the organisation would also deliberate on expanding its team and strengthening its presence across the country before deciding its future roadmap.On speculation that the CJP could become a political party, Dipke said there was no such discussion at present and that there was a consensus within the organisation to continue functioning as a social movement.Dicussions on future strategy"We were asked questions about where this movement will go after the success of the protest, and we have all come to strategise around the same. We will hold discussions over it and think about how to take it to grassroot level... When we come up with something concrete on August 6th, we will inform everyone on our future strategy, Chief Spokesperson Saurav Das told news agencies.“This is a movement. While there are numerous political parties, the answer to people's pain is not another political party, but an awakening on grassroot level and this is what CJP is doing,” he said.In the days following the strategy meet, CJP will reach out to its volunteers across the country and organise a nationwide listening tour to take into account the needs and aspirations of the youth in light of the resounding success Jantar Mantar protest against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which led to his resignation, CJP said in a statement earlier.Pradhan resigned as India's Education Minister on Saturday, 25 July, handing the month-long youth movement led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) a major victory.This is a movement. While there are numerous political parties, the answer to people's pain is not another political party, but an awakening on grassroots level.The resignation, many observers argued, underscored the growing political influence of the Gen Z-led movement that began as an online campaign sparked by a comment from the Chief Justice of India before evolving into a nationwide protest demanding government accountability over the NEET paper leaks.The CJP will share further details on its next steps, including the schedule for the nationwide listening tour, in the coming days.Get Latest real-time updatesStay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news. HomeNewsIndiaCJP core committee meet today after historic Jantar Mantar protest: Key agenda, what to expectMore
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