Jharkhand students give Aug 18 deadline, threaten CM residence siege

JPSC-JSSC aspirants in Jharkhand have given the Hemant Soren government an ultimatum until August 18 to meet their demands, threatening to lay siege to the Chief Minister's residence on August 20. The announcement came on the 22nd day of the protest, with student leaders saying they have abandoned the "Gandhian way" and will adopt the path of revolutionary Bhagat Singh. Students also plan to burn effigies of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts on Sunday.

The protesters demand cancellation of the JSSC-CGL and JPSC 11th-13th examinations, a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities, and the resignation of Chief Minister Soren. They have also called for Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the ruling JMM-Congress alliance. The protest, led by the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, includes a Tiranga Yatra held on Independence Day. Chief Minister Soren, in his Independence Day address, assured students of an impartial probe and announced systemic reforms including a time-bound examination calendar and technology-secured exams. The next major escalation is scheduled for August 20.