Ranchi, India – Thousands of job aspirants in Jharkhand marched to the State Assembly on Monday, carrying with them a frustration that had long outgrown any single examination. The protest, called by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch and the JLKM, demanded the cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination, accountability for alleged irregularities, and a CBI investigation into the matter. The march was met with a police baton charge, tear gas, and water cannons, deepening the anger among the youth who have been battling paper leaks and exam cancellations for years.
For Pankaj Yadav, 28, a JPSC and JSSC aspirant who has appeared for examinations four times, the march was about the lost years. “Each time, the process has been marred by irregularities,” he said. Sonali Agrawal, another aspirant, emphasized that the issue has been consistent for 26 years since Jharkhand’s formation. “These exams are a lifeline for this State’s youth,” she said. As the crowd moved closer to the Assembly, police baton-charged the protesters, used tear gas and low-pressure water cannons, and later used heavier force. Many protesters, including Anand Sagar, 26, and Pankaj Yadav, sustained injuries. Sagar, with an arm injury, said, “This dictatorial government is beating us students, but we will give an answer through our votes.”
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The protesters questioned the government’s use of barbed wire barricades, comparing them to those on the Pakistan border. “Does the government think that we are terrorists in our own country?” asked Binod, a protester. YouTuber Parth Kumar alleged that police destroyed his camera and forced him to delete footage of the lathi charge. Despite the crackdown, the aspirants, who have endured multiple exam cancellations, vowed to continue their fight for a fair system. “We demand a CBI investigation because we do not trust the State authorities,” said Ms. Agrawal. The protest, which brought back memories of the July 20 march to Parliament, ended with the police using heavy force, but the anger among the youth remains palpable as they await concrete action.
