Jharkhand Recruitment Row: Raghubar Das threatens hunger strike, ABVP announces nationwide protests

Ranchi: The Jharkhand recruitment exam row escalated on Wednesday, with former chief minister Raghubar Das threatening a hunger strike, the ABVP announcing protests at more than 1,200 universities nationwide and the BJP accusing the Hemant Soren government of trying to suppress the students' agitation. Congress, a constituent of the ruling JMM-led coalition, on the other hand, accused the opposition BJP of 'politicising' the issue and bringing people from other states to disrupt students' peaceful protests.

The agitation, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, entered its 19th day with job aspirants continuing their dharna at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi. Security was intensified across the state capital, with heavy police deployment and barricading at key points, including roads leading towards the chief minister's residence, amid fears of further protests and attempts to march on government establishments.

Das, addressing the protesters at the stadium, gave the state government a week to recommend a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. "If the state government fails to recommend a CBI probe within a week, I will be forced to sit on a hunger strike here," he said.

Das gives government one-week CBI probe deadline

The BJP leader accused the JMM-led government of "playing with the fate" of lakhs of students and alleged that major recruitment scams had taken place in Jharkhand over the past six years. Das also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation each for the next of kin of 19 people who died during physical tests for excise constable recruitment in 2024.

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More than 15 aspirants died during the physical tests, an issue the BJP has repeatedly used to target the Soren government. The ABVP announced a nationwide agitation, saying it would organise demonstrations at more than 1,200 universities and in every district across the country.

ABVP announces protests across universities

ABVP general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki demanded a CBI probe and immediate cancellation of the JSSC CGL examination, alleging serious questions had been raised over its integrity. He also questioned the credibility of the Special Investigation Team constituted by the state government, saying repeated changes in its composition had weakened students' faith in the probe.

"Students' voice cannot be suppressed by lathi-charge, arrests and administrative repression," Solanki said, adding that the agitation would continue until the demands were met. Around 110 ABVP workers were detained on Tuesday during a march towards the Jharkhand Assembly, a senior police officer said.

Congress accuses BJP of politicising agitation

The Congress, meanwhile, hit back at the BJP, accusing it of politicising the students' agitation and bringing workers from outside Jharkhand to disrupt the protests. Four Congress ministers -- Radha Krishna Kishore, Shilpy Neha Tirkey, Dipika Pandey Singh and Irfan Ansari -- mounted a joint attack on the BJP, alleging that the saffron party was attempting to turn the students' movement into a political campaign against the government.

Kishore alleged that BJP workers from other states had been brought to Ranchi to disrupt the students' protest and urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to identify them and take action. The ministers also defended the state's probe into examination-related anomalies and questioned the BJP's demand for a CBI investigation.

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BJP, administration trade allegations over protest

They claimed that CBI probes into several high-profile examination and paper-leak cases had not resulted in convictions. BJP state president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also accused the Ranchi administration of attempting to force students out of the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium during a late-night visit.

Marandi alleged that officials switched off electricity at the protest site and pressured students to vacate it. Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri and Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan rejected the allegation, saying officials had visited the site to check on the protesters' welfare.

Protest continues amid hunger strikes

The political development followed Monday's violent confrontation between protesters and police during a march towards the Assembly. Police used lathi-charge, water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Protesters alleged injuries, while police said 14 personnel were injured.

The BJP observed a statewide bandh on Tuesday over the police action, disrupting traffic, markets and educational institutions in several districts. Meanwhile, four of the students on hunger strike are currently undergoing treatment at Ranchi Sadar Hospital, where doctors said their condition was stable.

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JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto has continued his fast despite medical advice, while Rahul Kranti, who began his hunger strike on August 4, has shifted to a liquid diet following counselling by doctors. Earlier, six rounds of talks between the government and student representatives failed to break the deadlock.

The protesters are demanding greater transparency in JPSC and JSSC examinations, cancellation of several tests and an independent probe by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside Jharkhand. The chief minister has maintained that his government is committed to reforming the recruitment system and has assured protesters that the 14th JPSC examination will be cancelled. He has accused the BJP of exploiting the students' agitation for political gains.