Jharkhand protesters demand Rahul Gandhi withdraw JMM support

Protesters in Jharkhand have called on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the ruling JMM-led coalition, escalating their agitation over alleged recruitment exam irregularities, reports Rediff.com and NDTV. They plan to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence in Ranchi on August 20, demanding his resignation.

NDTV reports that protesters will burn effigies of Soren and Gandhi across all 24 districts on Sunday. The group, JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, is also demanding the cancellation of suspicious examinations and an independent probe, ideally by the CBI or retired judges from outside the state.

Chief Minister Soren has promised impartial investigations and systemic reforms, while former CM Champai Soren criticised the government's reluctance for a CBI probe, calling it 'despotic'.