Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to personally meet protesting job aspirants, as their agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations entered its 24th day. But why are the students still protesting despite repeated talks with the state government?

Led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, the protesters are firm on two key demands: a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

Six protesters are currently on hunger strike, while another round of talks between the students and the state government is scheduled for Monday.

Why are Jharkhand job aspirants still protesting?

The state government has already held six rounds of discussions with the protesting students, but none has resulted in a breakthrough.

The government recently invited the protesters for another meeting following discussions between the students and officials at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. The protesters have said they will attend the talks because they want to resolve the matter through dialogue.

However, JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said the protesters remained firm on their two main demands.

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The students have accused the ruling JMM-Congress alliance of failing to take concrete action and alleged that the government was playing politics over issues affecting the future of job aspirants.

What has Rahul Gandhi asked Hemant Soren to do?

In a letter dated August 14, Gandhi urged Soren to personally meet representatives of the protesting students.

Gandhi acknowledged that the Jharkhand government had already initiated a dialogue through a committee set up by the chief minister and that there had been agreement on several of the students' demands.

However, he pointed out that the protests were continuing and that some students remained on indefinite hunger strike.

Gandhi said a direct meeting between Soren and the protesters could reinforce the government's commitment to resolving their remaining concerns. He also said the Congress supported the students' right to peaceful protest.

The Congress is part of the ruling JMM-led government in Jharkhand.

Students plan to gherao Hemant Soren's residence

The protest has also taken a more confrontational turn.

On Sunday, the students took out a torchlight procession from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk, where they burnt effigies of Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

The protesters have announced plans to gherao the chief minister's residence on August 20 and have appealed to students from across Jharkhand to gather in Ranchi.

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They have also demanded that the Congress withdraw its support from the JMM-led government if Soren fails to act on their concerns.

The protesters have criticised Gandhi as well, arguing that while he has expressed support for students, there has been no concrete action on their demands.

What has the Jharkhand government done?

The Jharkhand government has announced several measures aimed at making the recruitment process more transparent and secure.

These include a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability in the recruitment process.

The government has also launched a campaign seeking suggestions from students, teachers, educationists and parents on reforms to the examination system.

However, these measures have not ended the agitation, with the protesters continuing to demand a CBI probe and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

With agency inputs