Jharkhand govt may cancel 14th JPSC exam as talks resume

The Story in Brief

The Jharkhand government began a sixth round of talks with student protesters on August 9, as the health of hunger-striking leader Devendra Nath Mahto deteriorated. Sources told Times Now the government may cancel the 14th JPSC preliminary exam and order a CID probe within 90 days, though no consensus has been reached on a CBI investigation. Student leader Ravindra Paswan of the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch accused the government of 'political manoeuvring' by summoning fringe groups to talks, aiming to divide the movement.

Six protesters remain on indefinite hunger strike at Ranchi's Jaipal Singh Stadium. The agitation, now in its 16th day, has seen students use satirical posters and poems from the Mahabharata to press demands including cancelling the 14th JPSC exam, a CBI or independent judicial inquiry, and comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. The students have announced a march to the Assembly on August 10 if their demands are not met.