Ranchi, Aug. 5: Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahto on Wednesday consumed water on the third day of his indefinite hunger strike after an appeal from activist Sonam Wangchuk, but asserted that he would continue his fast until the government addressed the demands of protesting job aspirants over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.
Mahto, one of six protesters on an indefinite hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, has been demanding action over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC), Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) and other state-level recruitment examinations.
During a 10-minute video call, Wangchuk expressed solidarity with the agitating students and urged Mahto to at least consume water while continuing the protest, citing concerns over his deteriorating health.
“I was not keeping well, but on Sonam Wangchuk ji’s request, I took water,” Mahto said after the conversation.
However, he clarified that consuming water did not signify the end of his agitation.
“I will not consume food until the government fulfills our demands. I have only taken water,” he said.
Mahto also appealed to Wangchuk to visit Ranchi, saying he would end his hunger strike only after meeting the activist in person.
“I will break my hunger strike only when you come to meet us. Sir, I request you to come here. We have great respect for you,” he said during the video call.
The agitation has intensified ahead of the Monsoon Session of the Jharkhand Assembly, with job aspirants demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, sweeping reforms in the JPSC and JSSC, and a probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or an independent panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state.
JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch spokesperson Jivan Kumar said five protesters, including two women, had joined the indefinite hunger strike and that the organisation was considering organising a ‘Tiranga March’ in support of the movement.
“Our five friends, including two women, began an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday night to press for our demands,” Kumar said.
Another hunger striker, Sabita Kumari, said the protesters had been compelled to adopt the extreme step after repeated appeals failed to yield any response.
“We were forced to adopt the extreme step as the government had failed to address our demands,” she said.
Responding to the agitation, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the government was taking the concerns of job aspirants seriously and would announce decisions at an appropriate time.
“With close scrutiny and complete seriousness, decisions addressing their demands and queries will be announced at the appropriate time. I am confident that the protesters will be reassured,” Soren said.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 14 people in connection with the alleged recruitment examination irregularities. The JPSC Combined Civil Services Main Examination, scheduled from July 25 to 27, was also postponed amid the ongoing investigation and protests.
Extending support to the movement, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke reiterated that his youth platform would function as a pressure group rather than enter electoral politics.
“We are not thinking about starting a political party. It seems the media is more interested in that,” Dipke said, while announcing a nationwide outreach campaign to support student movements, including the ongoing agitation in Jharkhand.
