Jharkhand students go on hunger strike as CJP's Abhijeet Dipke backs protests: What the row is about

Students and job aspirants in Jharkhand have been on a sit-in protest since last month, with some of them also sitting on a hunger strike, alleging irregularities and paper leaks in recruitment exams. The agitation, which began days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protest in Delhi was called off, is taking place at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium since July 29.Protesters in Ranchi have alleged paper leaks and other irregularities in the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination. As some protesters are on a hunger strike, the ongoing stir escalated on Tuesday after five more joined the indefinite fast to press their demands. Follow LIVE updates here.The Ranchi protest gained even more prominence recently with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke lending his support to students.Why are the job aspirants protesting?Protests in Ranchi have intensified over the last one week as the protesters are seeking a probe by central agencies into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They alleged that the JMM-led government was attempting to "whitewash" the issue by entrusting the investigation to the CID. They had earlier demanded an investigation by the CBI along with that of the Enforcement Directorate , claiming large-scale financial transactions were linked to the alleged recruitment scam."We have completely lost faith in the ongoing CID investigation. Earlier, the government got the JSSC-CGL paper leak probed by the CID. The agency itself found that answers to 135 of the 150 questions had been leaked and 120 questions matched the examination paper exactly," protester Vinay Mehta, an aspirant from Hazaribag district, was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.He alleged that despite candidates sending documentary evidence through emails and WhatsApp, the authorities neither acknowledged nor acted on the complaints.They are also calling for the cancellation of all examinations conducted by the private agency TDPL, which is under the scanner for the alleged irregularities. the protesting students have said that while paper leaks in the JPSC have been happening, this year, the OMR sheets of the candidates were also leaked.The protesting students and exam aspirants are also demanding the introduction of a fifth option of "not attempted" in OMR sheets. Students on hunger strike, protest march plannedDevendranath Mahto, a Jharkhand Krantikari Loktantrik Morcha (JKLM) leader, first began his hunger strike at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi early this week. He was later joined by other protesters amid warnings of an intensified agitation. Also read: Jharkhand CM reacts to protest against exam irregularities in Ranchi: 'Waiting for CID report'Before launching his hunger strike, Mahto told reporters that the "lackadaisical attitude" of both the central and the state governments over the alleged irregularities was demoralising students, youths and aspirants, news agency PTI reported."I am beginning a hunger strike to keep students motivated," he said.Amid the ongoing protests, the students also announced to hold a Vidhan Sabha March to mount pressure on the state government to fulfill their demands.While JKLM has planned the march on August 6, All India Students’ Association (AISA) and other people’s organisation has planned on August 7. Common students, who are not associated with any political parties and do not want political interferences in students’ movement, planned their march on August 10.CJP backs Ranchi protestsThe CJP, which was the face of the massive student-led protest against the NEET paper leak at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, also extended support to the Ranchi protests. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Monday said he spoke with student leaders through video call on Sunday night."Spoke to the students who are protesting in Jharkhand over irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment exams. The CJP stands with all the students in Jharkhand and supports their demands," Dipke said in a social media post. Ranchi protests have been receiving support from across the country, with people from various cities sending food items through online delivery apps to the protest site.The state unit of the All India Students' Association (AISA) staged a demonstration here at Albert Ekka Chowk against alleged paper leaks in various state-level public recruitment tests.What has the government said?Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday said the government was awaiting the investigation report of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Jharkhand police.The government has its eyes and ears at the right place. I can’t open my heart and show. However, it’s known that I always complete any assignment that I take up. The SIT is working day and night. We are waiting for the investigation report. Once we have the findings, we will act accordingly and inform the students and the state about the resulting decisions," Soren said, in one of his first remarks regarding the agitation.Also read: 'Political party not the answer': Dipke, Saurav Das, others to meet and discuss CJP's futureReplying to a specific question about whether a delegation would engage with the protesting students, the chief minister underlined that every action required for their welfare would be taken. “Everything possible as per constitutional norms would be done for them,” he added, while assuring them of the government’s support.With inputs from Raj Kumar and Vishal Kant