Jharkhand News : The ongoing protest by candidates against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations entered its 14th day on Friday in Ranchi. The movement is now receiving support from across the country. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has sent raincoats for students continuing their protest despite adverse weather, and the party’s leadership is scheduled to visit Ranchi on Friday to meet the demonstrators.
No Consensus Reached in Late-Night Talks
Late-night discussions were held between the district administration and student representatives on Thursday, but no agreement could be reached regarding the composition of the delegation for formal talks.
The administration maintained that the government would hold discussions only with student representatives, while the protesters insisted on an 11-member delegation, including one journalist and one lawyer.
Another round of talks between the government and student representatives is expected later on Friday.
Protest Continues at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium
The sit-in protest, being held under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Forum, began on July 25 at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi and has emerged as one of the largest student movements in Jharkhand in recent years.
Six protesters are currently on a hunger strike. The demonstrators are demanding the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination and an investigation by either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a committee of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.
Administration Holds Discussions with Students
At around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Ranchi Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Kumar Rajat and Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Dhananjay Kumar visited the protest site and held discussions with student leaders.
Although the talks continued late into the night, no concrete outcome was reached. Student leader Ravindra Paswan said the administration had expressed a positive approach, but no timeline for the next meeting was decided.
Protest Reaches the Assembly
The issue also echoed in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, where opposition BJP legislators wore masks and demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC examinations.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has stated that the government is open to dialogue. Meanwhile, social activist Sonam Wangchuk reportedly spoke over the phone with hunger-striking student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, urging him to stay hydrated.
The CID, which is investigating the alleged examination irregularities, has arrested 19 people so far, and the investigation is continuing.
