Ranchi — Amid the ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations, protesting students took out a Tiranga Yatra in Ranchi on Saturday to mark the 80th Independence Day.
The march began from Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, where a large number of students gathered carrying the national flag and raising slogans in support of their demands.
The protest also saw an emotional display of determination from two students who have been observing hunger strikes. Devendra Nath Mahto and Umme Habiba, both admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after their health deteriorated, sought to join the Independence Day march despite their medical condition.
Umme Habiba, who has been on hunger strike for 12 days, came out of her hospital room in a wheelchair carrying a copy of the Constitution. However, security personnel prevented her from leaving the hospital premises, citing her health condition.
A similar confrontation took place over Devendra Nath Mahto’s attempt to leave the hospital and participate in the procession. Mahto alleged that police personnel stopped and manhandled him when he tried to come out of his room. During a Facebook Live session, he also alleged that some of his associates present at the hospital were assaulted.
Mahto said that despite being on hunger strike for 14 days, he remained committed to raising the concerns of students and would continue to fight for what he described as their rights. He alleged that attempts to restrict their movement would not silence the student community.
Mahto has emerged as one of the prominent faces of the ongoing student movement in Jharkhand, which is demanding an investigation into alleged irregularities in examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The students, who have been protesting for 22 days, are seeking action against those found responsible for the alleged irregularities. The standoff has continued despite three rounds of talks between representatives of the protesting students and the state government.
While the dispute over the examinations remained unresolved, the Tiranga Yatra provided the protesting students with an opportunity to mark Independence Day while keeping their demands at the centre of public attention.
The participation of students carrying the national flag, along with the presence of the Constitution during the protest, also gave the march a broader message about their demand for transparency, accountability and fairness in public recruitment examinations.
The continuing agitation is likely to remain a significant issue in Jharkhand until the government and the protesting students reach a mutually acceptable resolution on the examination-related demands.
With inputs from IANS