The protesters said the government had ignored their demands for too long and announced plans to intensify the agitation, including a proposed gherao of the Chief Minister’s residence on August 20. Ranchi witnessed a fresh escalation in the JPSC-JSSC aspirants’ protest on Sunday as students burned effigies of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav over alleged recruitment exam irregularities.
Student leaders have announced a plan to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s residence in Ranchi on August 20.
Protester Baha Linda shaved his head and said the act was meant to express mourning over what he described as the failure of political leaders to address students’ concerns. Baha Linda said, “I am the younger brother of Rahul Gandhi and Hemant Soren. Shutting down all schools and colleges is another excellent idea; these are two measures worth considering,” he said.
Students demonstrated against what they described as government inaction over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Effigies of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav were burned during the protest. It is my duty to dedicate my body, mind, and resources to their final rites. Once their cremation is over and the ashes remain, I will be the one who has to stand up and immerse them in the Swarnarekha Ghat to fulfill a younger brother’s duty. You cannot expect anything from the dead. These people are like the dead. They only develop their own families; they are trapped in dynastic politics. They garner votes from Jharkhand but develop only their own families, so one cannot expect much from the dead… I shaved my head. I am observing mourning for my elder brothers Rahul and Hemant Ji… They have also demanded the Chief Minister’s resignation if their demands are not accepted. The government is not serious at all. I don’t think I will survive much longer; the situation is critical. They tried to take me away for treatment, but I refused. They took Devendra Nath Mahato away and are not allowing him to return. They intend to break the movement. ” Discussions regarding laying siege to the CM’s residence are ongoing; nothing has been finalised yet. In my view, a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ would be better than laying siege to the Chief Minister’s residence.
The JPSC-JSSC protest in Ranchi entered its 23rd day on Sunday. He said, “Today marks the 23rd day of the protest and the 13th day of the hunger strike. The fever started yesterday.
