Jharkhand protest LIVE: Fresh talks between govt, agitators today as stir enters day 24

Jharkhand protest LIVE: Protesters appealed that if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is unhappy with the lathi charge on students, he should visit the protest site and withdraw support from the government, similar to his expression of unhappiness over the incident at Jantar Mantar.

Jharkhand protest LIVE: Security personnel stand guard as people march towards Jharkhand Assembly amid a protest over alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC examination, JSSC-CGL and other recruitment tests, demanding resignation of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and CBI probe on paper leaks. (PTI)

Jharkhand protest LIVE: The Jharkhand government has invited job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations for another round of talks on Monday, officials said....Read More

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• 17 Aug 2026, 11:15:13 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: ‘Hope dialogue will yield positive outcome,’ says Devendra Nath Mahto ahead of fresh talks between Jharkhand protesters, govt

  Jharkhand protest live: Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who completed 15 days of hunger strike of alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), on Sunday called for permanent reforms in the education system to ensure that future generations do not face similar hardships.

  In a post on X, Mahto said the government had called for talks on Monday and expressed hope that the dialogue would lead to a positive outcome.

• 17 Aug 2026, 10:59:33 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: Fresh talks between govt, agitators on Monday as stir enters day 24

  Jharkhand protest live: Job aspirants protesting against alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations in Jharkhand are scheduled to hold fresh talks with the state government on Monday as the stir entered its 24th day with six agitators still on hunger strike.

  A day earlier, the demonstrators burnt the effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, accusing the JMM-Congress alliance of "failing to take concrete action" on their demands.

  Later in the evening, the Hemant Soren government invited the protesters for a fresh round of talks at 2 pm on Monday.

  The proposed meeting will be the seventh round of talks between the government and the agitating students. The previous rounds of talks failed to yield any breakthrough.

  The decision came following a meeting between the protesters and the sub-divisional officer and the additional district magistrate (Law and Order) at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.

• 17 Aug 2026, 10:26:25 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: Jharkhand protesters threaten to gherao CM Soren's residence, demand his resignation

  Jharkhand protest live: The job aspirants protesting against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examinations on Saturday announced that they would gherao chief minister Hemant Soren’s official residence on August 20, demanding his resignation.

  Seeking “accountability” for the irregularities, spokesperson of the “JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch”, Piyush Singh, said: “This is the first time we are making this demand. It’s time that accountability must also be fixed for the scams”.

  Read more here

• 17 Aug 2026, 10:09:25 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: Students burn effigies of CM, Rahul; govt announces fresh round of talks

  Jharkhand protest live: The agitation by students over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment examinations intensified on Sunday, as protesters burnt effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav here, accusing the JMM-Congress alliance of "failing to take concrete action" on their demands.

  The state government, meanwhile, extended an invitation in the evening to the protesters for a fresh round of talks on Monday.

  The stir, led by the 'JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch', entered its 23rd day on Sunday, with the students reiterating their demand for a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination.

  The agitators took out a torchlight procession from the protest site Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk, where they burnt the effigies. Effigies were also burnt in various other districts across the state.

  (PTI)

• 17 Aug 2026, 10:05:08 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: ‘If you are really unhappy with lathi charge, come to protest site and withdraw support from govt’, student protesters urge Rahul Gandhi

  Jharkhand protest live: JPSC-JSSC aspirants continue their protest in Ranchi on Monday, with student protesters observing an indefinite hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium as a fresh round of talks between the students and the Jharkhand government is scheduled to take place.

  The protest has entered its 24th day, with student protesters continuing their agitation until their demands are addressed.

  Speaking to ANI, one of the protesters, Baha Linda, appealed that if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is unhappy with the lathi charge on students, he should visit the protest site and withdraw support from the government, similar to his expression of unhappiness over the incident at Jantar Mantar.

  "Rahul Gandhi says that he condemns the lathi charge. If you are really unhappy with the lathi charge on students, then we would like you to come to our protest site and withdraw support from the government, just as you expressed your unhappiness at Jantar Mantar," Linda said.

  He also raised concerns over city land being sold in the name of development and alleged that government posts in the state are being given to outsiders.

  (ANI)

• 17 Aug 2026, 10:02:43 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: ‘Stubbornness not the solution,’ says Congress Rajesh Thakur appeals for dialogue as JPSC-JSSC protest enters day 24

  Jharkhand protest live: The Jharkhand government on Monday will hold a fresh round of talsk with protesting students over the alleged examination irregularities. Congress leader Rajesh Thakur on Monday said efforts were being made to find a solution to the demands of students.

  "Right from the beginning, we have made efforts to find a solution to the demands of students. For this, we have been having continuous talks...We have been appealing to both - students and the Government to set aside their stubbornness," Thakur told ANI.

  He stressed that an agreement can be reached only through dialogue.

  "An agreement can be reached only when both sides are heard, and both sides are ready to listen to each other. Stubbornness is not the solution. So, we believe that students as well as the Government delegation will sit together and a decision will be made by keeping students in focal point, and a positive result will come," he said.

  Targeting BJP, Thakur accused Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi of politicising the agitation.

  "Babulal Marandi is doing his own politics. He has nothing to do with students' protest. They want to earn political points through this students' protest. This doesn't seem possible here," he said.

  Thakur also urged students to sustain their agitation to bring about systemic change. "Students should be adamant about a reformation in the system. They should be adamant for at least 3 months; only then will reformation come about. If they sit home after the Government's assurance, then a solution will not come out. They will have to be at it continuously and draw the Government's attention towards it," he added.

  (ANI)

• 17 Aug 2026, 09:57:17 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: ‘I wish CM had shown sincerity,’ says BJP slams Hemant Soren as JPSC-JSSC student protests enter 24th Day

  Jharkhand protest live: Tensions between the Jharkhand government and protesting students flared up on Monday as the BJP criticised Chief Minister Hemant Soren for skipping a critical round of talks aimed at resolving the ongoing examinations crisis.

  The student demonstration, stationed at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi, reached its 24th consecutive day, driven by widespread anger over alleged irregularities in exams conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

  Speaking with ANI, BJP Jharkhand Chief Spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo slammed the administration, questioning Chief Minister Soren's absence from the negotiations table. Shah Deo argued that the head of state should have personally led the dialogue to demonstrate genuine commitment to the youth.

  Criticising Soren's decision to send a ministerial delegation instead of attending himself, Shah Deo stated, "I wish the CM had shown sincerity and been a part of these talks. Why is he being stubborn and not accepting students' demands?"

  (ANI)

• 17 Aug 2026, 09:56:00 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: ‘If govt fails to live up, struggle will continue’, says Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato

  Jharkhand protest live: Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahato on Monday expressed "hope and faith" ahead of the fresh round of talks with the state government, saying that if the government fails to meet the students' expectations, "the struggle will continue."

  The student protest at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi has entered its 24th consecutive day against alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

  Speaking about the government's invitation for talks and its decision to allow students to bring legal experts, Mahato said he hoped the discussions would lead to a solution that ensures a fair education and examination system for future generations.

  "There is hope and faith. But if the government fails to live up to it, the struggle will continue. I hope the talks satisfy the students, and we want an education system to emerge--a system that for generations to come, for those currently in 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, or in school, or in 2, when those students face competitive exams, they shouldn't have to face such struggles," he said.

  (ANI)

• 17 Aug 2026, 09:55:03 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: 'I don't think they will accept demand,' says Protester Rahul Kranti on CBI probe ahead of talks with Jharkhand govt

  Jharkhand protest live: Student protester Rahul Kranti, who is on the 15th day of his hunger strike against irregularities in Jharkhand's competitive examinations, said on Monday that he did not expect the state government to accept the students' demand for a CBI probe into the matter, ahead of a fresh round of talks with the government.

  The student protest at Jaipal Singh Stadium has entered its 24th consecutive day against alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

  Speaking about the talks with the state government, Kranti said, "We demand a CBI probe. If the Govt accepts the demand for a CBI probe, it will be good. But I don't think they will accept the demand."

  He said students had repeatedly heard the Chief Minister speak about a CID investigation but were seeking a broader reform of the examination system.

  "We have heard the CM several times, he speaks about a CID investigation. But we want reform. We don't care about party politics. Anyone can be in power, but jobs should not be sold, and there should be reform in the system. Therefore, we are demanding a CBI investigation..." Kranti said.

  (ANI)

• 17 Aug 2026, 09:26:55 AM IST

  Jharkhand protest live: Jharkhand protesters, govt to hold 7th round of talks today as hunger strike enters 15th day

  Jharkhand protest live: The Jharkhand government has invited job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations for a fresh rounds of talks on Monday, officials said on Sunday.

  The development comes a day after JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch — which is spearheading the protest — announced they would gherao chief minister Hemant Soren’s residence on August 20, demanding his resignation.

  “We will definitely go for the talks as we want to resolve the issue through dialogue. But, we are firm on two demands – a CBI probe into irregularities in recruitment tests and cancellation of the JSSC-CGL (Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combine Graduate Level) exams,” Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said.