24 Days, Six On Hunger Strike: Jharkhand Exam Deadlock Continues As Students Reject Govt’s Latest Offer

The 24-day standoff between the Jharkhand government and job aspirants over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations showed signs of movement on Monday, with the state announcing fresh measures even as protesters refused to compromise on their two core demands, a CBI probe and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

Six protesters remain on hunger strike as the agitation enters its fourth week.

The seventh round of talks was held at the State Guest House after an 11-member student delegation led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch arrived on time, while ministers were delayed. Ahead of the meeting, student leader Kartik Soren said the government had accepted around 95 per cent of the students' reform-related demands, but differences remained over the CGL examination and the demand for a CBI investigation.

Rural Development Minister Dipika Pandey Singh said the government would cancel the 14th JPSC and backlog examinations and have the Jharkhand CID investigate examinations conducted by private agency TDPL, including the JSSC-CGL, under judicial monitoring. The probe has been given a 90-day deadline, while the government would also write to the Enforcement Directorate over alleged financial irregularities.

Adding to the day's developments, the CID raided the JSSC office in Ranchi, questioning secretary Sudhir Gupta and examining documents linked to candidates selected through the CGL examination.

But the concessions did not settle the central dispute. Student leaders, including Ravindra Paswan, maintained that they could not compromise on the CBI probe and CGL cancellation, arguing that a state investigation did not meet their demand for an independent inquiry.

The political pressure also intensified. Jharkhand Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the government of delaying negotiations and said it acted only after students escalated their protest.

The protesters on Sunday burnt effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, accusing the ruling alliance of failing to act. Rahul Gandhi, despite being targeted, wrote to Soren urging him to personally meet the students. Meanwhile, hunger-striker Rahul Kranti was hospitalised after his condition worsened.

The protesters have issued an August 18 deadline and announced plans to gherao the Chief Minister's residence on August 20 if their demands remain unmet.

Monday's talks therefore produced fresh government commitments but no agreement on the two demands at the heart of the 24-day agitation, leaving the next phase of the protest hanging in the balance.