J'khand agitation Day 23: Protesters criticise Rahul Gandhi over 'hollow' assurances

The student agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 23rd day on Sunday, with protesters intensifying their criticism of the state government and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

The protesting students have also announced plans to burn effigies of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a demonstration later in the day, accusing both the ruling alliance and its senior leaders of failing to address their demands.

Student protester Ravindra Kumar Paswan said the agitation would continue until the students' key demands were met.

"After days of protest, we are now changing our mode of agitation, and somewhere the government itself is responsible for this. We have been protesting peacefully and following Gandhian principles for the past 22 days, but the government seems to be ignoring us," Paswan told IANS.

He alleged that the government's failure to respond meaningfully had increased frustration among the protesters.

"The government is now forcing us (students) to follow the path of Bhagat Singh," he said, adding that the protesters had decided to intensify their campaign.

Paswan said the students would continue their agitation until the JSSC examination was cancelled, a CBI investigation was ordered and examinations conducted by TDPL were scrapped.

The protester also criticised Rahul Gandhi over assurances that he claimed had been given to the students through a phone conversation and social media posts.

"Today we are going to burn effigies of (Jharkhand Chief Minister) Hemant Soren and (Lok Sabha LoP) Rahul Gandhi. We will burn Rahul Gandhi's effigy also because Congress is in alliance with the JMM in Jharkhand and despite giving assurances over phone call and social media post, he (Gandhi) is not doing anything for us. The assurances are of no use," Paswan said.

He questioned why Gandhi had not intervened more directly despite expressing support for the protesting students.

"Why is Rahul Gandhi not helping us despite giving assurances? On one hand, he says that he is standing with the students, while on the other, his party's Minister does not have control over their language," he said.

Paswan was referring to Jharkhand Minister and Congress leader Shilpi Neha Tirkey, who had reportedly said that the student delegation that met the government did not include those actually observing the hunger strike or leading the protest.

"Both JMM and Congress are equally responsible. Even if Congress is really concerned about the students, then it should clear its stand on the matter. All of us students are fighting hard against both the JMM and Congress," Paswan asserted.

The latest escalation comes amid an increasingly prolonged standoff between the protesting students and the state government. The protesters are demanding action over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment examinations, along with cancellation of examinations they believe were compromised.

The agitation has also seen hunger strikes, with some student leaders requiring hospitalisation after their health deteriorated. The dispute has increasingly moved beyond the examination issue, with protesters now questioning the political parties forming the ruling alliance over their response to the movement.

A controversy had erupted a day earlier after Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto was allegedly prevented from leaving the hospital, where he had been admitted following deterioration in his health during a hunger strike. Mahto had wanted to join the Tiranga Yatra organised by protesting students in Ranchi on Independence Day.

With the students now announcing a more aggressive phase of their agitation, the pressure on the Jharkhand government to find a resolution to the recruitment examination dispute is expected to increase.