Jharkhand Students Demand CM Hemant Soren's Resignation, Ask Congress To 'Withdraw Support' From JMM

The student agitation in Jharkhand is set to intensify, with protesters staging a fresh escalation of their ongoing demonstration at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi. The protesting students on Saturday demanded Chief Minister Hemant Soren's resignation and announced that they will "gherao the Chief Minister's residence" on August 20, while a "Mahaputla Dahan of the state government" will be held on Sunday as part of the protest.

The students said their agitation, which they claimed had so far followed a Gandhian approach, had now reached a "decisive" stage. Announcing a more aggressive phase of the movement, the students said, "Bahut ho gaya Gandhiwadi tareeke se aandolan, ab chhatra Bhagat Singh banenge" (Enough of the Gandhian way of protest; now students will become Bhagat Singh).

At the protest site, students also targeted the Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) alliance, accusing political parties and the state government of failing to take their demands seriously.

Students Demand Congress To Withdraw Support

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, the protesters alleged that "Rahul Gandhi has betrayed the students". The students said that if the Congress leader's voice is not being heard by the state government, then he should withdraw support from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led state government.

In addition to this, they also urged Rahul Gandhi not to confuse students by merely claiming to stand with them and instead demanded concrete action in support of their concerns.

Students Continue To Protest

The protesters also reiterated their demand for the cancellation of the JSSC CGL examination. Calling for a thorough and impartial probe into the alleged irregularities, the students reiterated their demand that the entire matter be handed over to the CBI for investigation.

The announcement comes as the students seek greater attention to their demands from the Jharkhand government. With the planned government effigy burning on Sunday followed by the CM residence gherao on August 20, the agitation is likely to intensify in the coming days.