Ranchi: The standoff between Jharkhand government authorities and aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations continued at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, with the second round of discussions failing to bring the two sides closer to a resolution.
The agitation has entered a critical phase as several protesters remain on hunger strike. According to student protester Prem Nayak, Monday marked the seventh day of the hunger strike, with the health of those undertaking the fast reportedly deteriorating.
Protesters raise concerns over health
Nayak said Mahendra and Kush Mahto, who are also participating in the hunger strike, had become extremely weak. He claimed that a medical team had been monitoring the protesters through the night.
He also said attempts were made to wake student leader Devendra Nath Mahto during the night, amid concerns over his condition.
The protesters have continued to insist that their demands must be addressed rather than relying on assurances from officials.
Fresh meeting scheduled with government
According to Nayak, the government had invited representatives of the protesting students for another round of discussions at noon.
However, he criticised the government’s approach, alleging that authorities were offering minor concessions instead of addressing what the protesters consider their core demands.
“We want the Chief Minister to speak to us directly,” Nayak said, calling for firm action on the issues raised by the aspirants.
Protesters refuse to call off agitation
Despite multiple rounds of talks, the agitation at the Ranchi stadium remains underway. Protesters have indicated that they are not prepared to withdraw the movement until they receive concrete assurances and action from the state government.
Nayak claimed that the continued participation of Devendra Nath Mahto had become an important factor in sustaining the movement and suggested that the gathering of students could grow further if the deadlock continued.
The latest developments come amid a broader protest by JPSC-JSSC aspirants over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The students have been demanding corrective action from the authorities and have maintained pressure on the government through demonstrations and the ongoing hunger strike.
The outcome of the latest meeting between student representatives and the government is expected to determine whether the prolonged standoff can finally be brought to an end.
