Ranchi, Aug. 6: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday broke his silence on the ongoing students’ agitation in Jharkhand, saying governments at all levels must listen to students and undertake reforms to fix what he described as a “collapsed” education system.
Responding to a question on Instagram, Gandhi said the wave of student protests across the country reflected deeper structural problems in the education sector.
“Student protests in the country are happening against the education system. I have clearly said in Dehradun, Kota, and I am going to say in Allahabad as well that our education system has collapsed. It is expensive and oppressive,” Gandhi said.
He asserted that every government, irrespective of political affiliation, should address students’ concerns.
“Every government must listen to students and take action to change the education system, whether it is a Congress government, the central government, or the Jharkhand government,” he added.
Gandhi’s remarks come as the Congress is part of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand, where students have been staging a prolonged protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The Congress had earlier extended support to the agitating students at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi.
The agitation, launched on July 25 under the banner of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, has emerged as one of the largest student-led movements in the state in recent years. The protesters are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination and an independent investigation into the alleged recruitment irregularities by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.
The protest intensified after five students, including two women, joined JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto in an indefinite hunger strike. Mahto has been fasting for the past five days, with concerns mounting over his health after his blood sugar and blood pressure reportedly dropped significantly.
“Our five friends, including two women, have joined the hunger strike to strengthen the movement and press for our demands,” JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch spokesperson Jivan Kumar said.
One of the fasting protesters, Sabita Kumari, alleged that the government had failed to respond to repeated appeals from students.
“The government had ignored students’ concerns, leaving them with no option but to intensify their protest,” she said.
Reacting to Gandhi’s remarks, BJP MLA Neera Yadav accused the Congress of adopting contradictory positions on student agitations.
“The Congress puts up one mask when the stir is in Delhi and a different one for Jharkhand,” Yadav said.
