RANCHI: A JPSC-JSSC aspirant on Sunday said two students on hunger strike were in a weak condition as the agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations continued in Ranchi, while protesters demanded direct talks with Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren.Student protester Prem Nayak said it was the seventh day of the hunger strike and claimed that Mahendra and Kush Mahto, who were on either side of protesting leader Devendra Nath Mahto, were “very weak”.He said a team of doctors had continuously visited the protesters through the night.Nayak also alleged that attempts were made to wake Devendra Nath Mahto during the night. He claimed the administration wanted to take Mahto to hospital and alleged that this could be aimed at weakening the agitation.“Till the time Devendra Nath Mahto continues, this protest will strengthen, and the crowd here will increase,” Nayak said in a video shared by ANI.The protesters were called for talks with the government at noon on Saturday.However, Nayak alleged that the government was trying to “coax” them with what he described as “toffees and biscuits” and reiterated their demand for direct talks with Soren.“We demand that the chief minister talk to us directly and take strict action,” he said.The agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations began on July 25 under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch.The protesters are demanding cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or a panel of retired high court judges from outside the state. They are also seeking reforms in the JPSC and JSSC.The agitation continued after a first round of talks between protesting students and a government panel on Friday, with the students saying they would proceed with a planned Vidhan Sabha march on August 10 if their demands were not met.Health concerns have emerged as a key issue during the agitation. Student leader Rahul Kranti was admitted to Ranchi Sadar Hospital after his condition deteriorated while he was among those on an indefinite hunger strike.The state government has maintained that it is willing to engage with the protesting students.Higher and technical education minister Sudivya Kumar had said the government was sensitive to their concerns and ready to consider their demands sympathetically.
