Ranchi: Aspirants protesting at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) have given the state govt until Aug 18 to accept their demands, failing which they will gherao chief minister Hemant Soren’s residence on Aug 20. The warning came on a day the govt invited the protesters for another round of talks at 2 pm on Monday.The aspirants, whose agitation entered its 23rd day on Sunday, are demanding a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2024.The planned gherao coincides with a meeting called by JMM in Ranchi to draw up an agitation plan against passage of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament.Piyush Kumar, a member of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, said the students decided to march to the CM’s residence as he had not met them despite their prolonged protest.“We have been protesting peacefully for the past 23 days, braving all odds. Yet, the chief minister could not find time to meet us and listen to our grievances. We have, therefore, decided to reach his doorstep and apprise him of our demands,” he said.Piyush, who was part of talks between the students and a four-member ministerial panel, said the Aug 20 demonstration would remain peaceful. “Around 1 lakh students from across Jharkhand are expected to join the gherao. We have given govt until Aug 18 to fulfil our demands,” he added.On Saturday, hundreds of aspirants from across the state took out a ‘Tiranga Padayatra’ in Ranchi to mark the 80th Independence Day. Carrying tricolours, singing and dancing to patriotic songs and raising slogans, they formed a nearly 2km-long human chain to demand transparency and accountability in recruitment exams.Two of those on hunger strike from the Reforms Manch joined the march in wheelchairs. However, doctors prevented several hospitalised protesters, including Devendra Nath Mahto of JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch and Umme Habiba and Rahul Kranti of the Reforms Manch, from participating because of their health.Habiba on Sunday alleged that security personnel mishandled her when she sought permission to join the march for an hour. She said her request to be allowed to participate with an attendant was also turned down.
