Jharkhand student protest enters 21st day as Mahto urges govt to protect state’s dignity
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Ranchi: The agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities and question paper leaks in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 21st day on Friday.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who is leading the protest in Ranchi, appealed to the JMM-led state government to “save the soul” of Jharkhand. Mahto has been hospitalised after his health deteriorated during an ongoing hunger strike.
“This is more painful than my physical suffering. Jobs are being given through leaked examination papers, cheating and favouritism. By selling jobs in Jharkhand, the soul of the state is being sold,” Mahto said in a video message.
He urged the protesters not to allow the agitation to weaken and appealed to the government and administration to protect the dignity of the state.
“Power may come and go in a democracy, but do not blindly follow orders,” he said, referring to the JMM-led government.
Mahto also alleged that some elements were attempting to divert the students’ agitation, which he said had been launched after considerable difficulty.
Meanwhile, protester Khush Mahto said he had been on hunger strike for 10 days and that the health of the demonstrators was steadily deteriorating.
“My condition worsened considerably on the sixth day, after which I was urgently admitted to Sadar Hospital and examined by a medical team. After feeling slightly better, I left the hospital and participated in the ‘Vidhan Sabha Gherao’ protest on August 10, even though I had not been formally discharged,” he told IANS.
Khush Mahto said talks were continuing between the agitators and the state government. He added that students from across the country were joining the protest and that the agitation would continue until all their demands were met.
The protesters have planned to take out a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ on Independence Day on Saturday.
Ravindra Kumar Paswan said the indefinite agitation would continue and described the planned march as a display of the protesters’ patriotic spirit.
“The Tiranga Yatra will show the government that we are patriotic and that it should take our demands seriously when students come out on the streets,” he told IANS.