Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has become the centre of a student protest over the past 10 days.
Inspired by the demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, students have been staging a sustained agitation against alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations.
To draw the government’s attention, they have organised torchlight marches and adopted several other forms of protest during the campaign.
Government agrees to initiate dialogue
After 10 days of continuous protests, the Jharkhand government has agreed to hold talks with the students. The state has decided to constitute a high-level committee to address their concerns.
The panel will function under the supervision of Higher Education Minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu and Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department Vandana Dadel.
High-level panel to engage with protesters
The proposed committee will include ministers, political representatives and senior IAS officers. It is expected to begin discussions with the protesting students shortly.
An official notification constituting the committee is likely to be issued today by the Home Department or the Cabinet Secretariat.
See pictures of the student protest
Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand, has been the center of student protests for the past 10 days.
Here, students are protesting along the lines of the demonstration held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
These students are protesting against the alleged irregularities in JPSC-JSSC examinations in Jharkhand.
Now, after 10 days, the state government has agreed to talk to them.
Students enforce their own code of conduct
Although inspired by the student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the agitation in Ranchi has followed a distinctly different path.
Despite continuing for the past 10 days, the protest has remained peaceful, with no violence, provocative speeches or need for police action.
A key reason is that the students have barred the direct involvement of political parties and adopted a self-imposed code of conduct to maintain discipline.
No politics, personal attacks or abusive language
Under the code of conduct, participants are prohibited from making political, religious or caste-based remarks from the protest stage.
Speakers are allowed to address only the core issues related to the movement, while personal allegations against individuals and the use of abusive language are strictly forbidden.
Organisers have urged all participants to follow these rules throughout the protest.
Students have banned the direct entry of political parties into their movement. Not only this, students have created a code of conduct for themselves.
Nationwide support pours in for student protest
The student sit-in and satyagraha at Jaipal Singh Stadium is now receiving widespread public support.
While protesters were initially worried about arranging food, water and other basic necessities, those concerns have eased as people from across the country have stepped forward to help.
Meals are being ordered online for the students from as far as Gujarat and Delhi, with delivery personnel regularly bringing food and drinking water to the protest site.
Community groups step forward to help
The Chaiti Durga Puja Committee has been providing meals to the protesters continuously for the past five days. Several other organisations have also extended support by contributing food, supplies and other essential assistance.
Different student groups announce protest roadmap
Organisers describe the campaign as a satyagraha rather than a conventional protest. Alongside the main student agitation, groups including the JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum, AISA and the Devendra Mahto-led Abhyarthi Nyay Manch have been organising separate programmes to intensify pressure on the government, attracting support from both within Jharkhand and other states.
Assembly marches planned this week
Each student organisation has announced its own schedule of events. The JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum has called for a march to the Jharkhand Assembly on 10 August, while AISA has planned a cultural programme followed by an Assembly march on 7 August. AISA president Neha Bora, who emerged as a prominent face of the Delhi student protests, is also expected to participate.
Devendra Mahto, leader of JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch, continued his hunger strike for the third consecutive day.
Devendra Mahto continues hunger strike
JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch leader Devendra Mahto continued his indefinite hunger strike for the third consecutive day.
Despite his health deteriorating, he said the protest would continue and dedicated the day’s fast to the late Dishom Guru Shibu Soren. The forum has also announced a march to the Jharkhand Assembly on 6 August.
Protesters claimed they are receiving support from students and social organisations in Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi and Gujarat.
Key demands of the protesters
The agitating students have demanded:
- A comprehensive probe into all examinations conducted by the JPSC and JSSC.
- Cancellation of the 14th JPSC and JSSC CGL examinations, followed by an investigation by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
- An inquiry into all competitive examinations conducted by TDLP for the JPSC and JSSC.
- Greater transparency in the appointment process for JPSC and JSSC chairpersons and members.
- Release of a calendar for pending JPSC and JSSC examinations along with relaxation in the upper age limit for candidates.
- Strict action against officials and employees accused of jeopardising the future of examination aspirants.
Cockroach Janata Party extends support
The ongoing student protest at Jaipal Singh Stadium also received support from Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
After interacting with the protesters and listening to their demands he said, “The party stood firmly behind the students and urged them to continue their agitation peacefully, expressing confidence that their movement would ultimately succeed.”
