Two rounds of talks between the Jharkhand government and students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations have ended without a final decision on their demands, with the agitation continuing in Ranchi.
The students said the government had heard their concerns and assured them that the demands would be placed before Chief Minister Hemant Soren. However, they maintained that the hunger strike and wider agitation would continue until a concrete decision is taken.
An eight-member delegation of the JPSC-JSSC Abhyarthi Nyay Manch reached a guest house in Morabadi from the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium on Saturday morning. The meeting with government representatives began around 11.30 am.
The students raised demands already put forward by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch during its meeting with the government on Friday, along with additional concerns relating to the TGT examination and other teacher recruitment tests.
The government delegation included ministers Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Chamra Linda, Deepika Singh Pandey and Sanjay Yadav.
After the meeting, Sonu appealed to students and candidates to send their suggestions and concerns to the government through a dedicated email address. He said the feedback would be considered while formulating a reform policy.
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Student representative Chandan Rajak said the delegation had placed all its demands before the government and was assured that the issues would be taken up with the Chief Minister.
“We have put forward our demands. The government has listened to them and has assured us that these issues will be taken up with the Chief Minister. Only after a decision is taken will we move away from the hunger strike and the agitation,” Rajak said.
The latest meeting came a day after another group of protesting students, the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch, held talks with government representatives. That meeting also ended without a decision on the students' key demands.
Meanwhile, the protest continued at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Two students on hunger strike were taken to Sadar Hospital after their health deteriorated, while several other protesters were also reported to be unwell.
The protesters have said they will continue their agitation until their demands are addressed. Students from both groups are also preparing for an Assembly gherao planned for August 10, keeping pressure on the state government.
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