After his health deteriorated, student Rahul Kranti was taken from Jaypal Singh Munda Stadium to Sadar Hospital on Friday morning
In Jharkhand, protester Rahul Kranti, who has been on a hunger strike for four days against alleged irregularities in examinations, fell ill on today (7 Aug) morning. He was shifted from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to Ranchi Sadar Hospital for treatment.
The protesters are demanding cancellation of the JPSC examination. Six protesters, including Devendra Nath, are currently on hunger strike.
Rahul Gandhi speaks to student leader
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke over the phone with student leader Ravindra Paswan, who is also on hunger strike, on Thursday (6 Aug) night. Gandhi assured the protesting students that the Congress stands with them.
Student groups plan Assembly march
The All India Students’ Association (AISA), along with two other student organisations, has announced a march to the Jharkhand Assembly today (7 Aug) while the Assembly session is underway.
Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi also raised the students’ protest in the Assembly and urged the government to hold talks with the protesters.
Photos of Students’ Protest
Student leaders Devendra Nath Mahto and Brahmanath continue their hunger strike for the sixth consecutive day.
Late at night, SDO and SDM Law-and-Order Jaypal Singh reached the stadium and spoke with the students.
On Thursday night, students conducted a flashlight march.
SDM reaches protest site, talks remain inconclusive
On Thursday (6 Aug), the protesting students formed a delegation to hold talks with the Jharkhand government, but no meeting could be finalised between the two sides during the day.
At around 10.45pm, the SDO and SDM (Law and Order) reached the protest site to speak with the students. The officials said, “The government was ready to hold discussions with the protesters, but the students remained firm on their demands.”
The students’ delegation included two journalists and a former Advocate General. The discussion continued for around 45 minutes but failed to produce any breakthrough, following which the officials left the site.
Rahul Gandhi backs students’ movement
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi spoke over the phone with student leader Ravindra Paswan, who is on hunger strike, on Thursday (6 Aug) night and expressed support for the ongoing movement.
Earlier, Gandhi had also released a video message appealing for support for the protesting students. He said that student protests across the country reflect dissatisfaction with the education system and called for governments to listen to their concerns and bring reforms.
Gandhi said, “The education system needs to change irrespective of which political party is in power, including the Congress or the Jharkhand government.”
‘If the government cannot listen to us, it should resign’
The protesting students have stepped up their criticism of the Jharkhand government, alleging that their concerns over the JPSC-JSSC examination system are being ignored.
A student named Prem said, “The government was failing to acknowledge the seriousness of their situation and urged it to listen to the protesters.” He alleged that the issue was not merely a problem but an infringement of students’ rights.
Student leader Devendranath, who has been on hunger strike for six days, accused the government of delaying talks while the protesters continued their agitation.
He said, “The students were prepared to intensify their movement if necessary and called for reforms in the JPSC-JSSC examination system to prevent irregularities and paper leaks.”
He added, “The protesters wanted a system in which examination fraud and paper leaks would become impossible.”
Continuous 10-day interrogation of the mastermind
The investigation into serious irregularities in the JPSC examination is progressing. The layers of a large fraud syndicate are being uncovered before the CID.
The CID has so far arrested 19 accused in the case and sent them to jail. During the investigation, the mastermind Abhay Tiwari was interrogated continuously for 10 days.
According to sources, Abhay Tiwari revealed, “Deals worth ₹40 to ₹60 lakh were made with each candidate in the name of ensuring success in the examination. The share of people involved from top to bottom in this amount was predetermined.”
