Jharkhand protest Highlights: BJP's 'statewide bandh' underway; most schools, businesses closed

The Ranchi Civil Court on Tuesday granted bail to a man accused of throwing ink at the All India Students' Association (AISA) president Neha Bora during a protest march to the Jharkhand Assembly four days ago.

The accused Amarnath Pandey was detained on Friday immediately after he threw ink at Bora and was arrested later.

"From OMR to exam calendars, scorecards, question papers, transparency in the examination process, better use of technology, and several important suggestions related to necessary and essential reforms within the constitutional framework in both commissions, including the JPSC, have reached us," Soren said.

Over 8,500 youth shared valuable suggestions for exam reforms under govt campaign: CM Hemant Soren in social media post.

Students take out 'silent procession' from Jaipal Singh Stadium to Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi to protest exam recruitment 'irregularities'.

Keen to build transparent, secure, accountable examination system for present, future generations, said Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren

Himachal BJP chief slammed Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's "double standards" over the Jharkhand protests, accusing the Congress of indulging in "politics of convenience" by raising the Delhi protests while its coalition government in Jharkhand cracks down on agitators.

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday denounced the police action on students protesting in Ranchi against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in Jharkhand and said it was a repeat of what happened in Delhi last month.

Independent MP from Jharkhand, Parimal Nathwani, said that the state government has already met about 80% of the protestor's demands.

“The CM should have looked into the remaining key issues. As for the students, they went to the CM's residence and then to the Legislative Assembly; the lathi-charge that occurred was truly unfortunate.”

The Jharkhand assembly was adjourned sine die on Tuesday, a day before schedule, after BJP MLAs created a ruckus in the House over baton charge on students protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state.

On police action on students in Jharkhand, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Founder Abhijeet Dipke says, "Why is tear gas and lathi-charge not used when political parties protest? Why is it being used against only students? I spoke to Devendra Mahato, who told me that police lathi-charged him despite the fact that he was on a hunger strike for the last nine days. All governments in the country should think about what they are gaining from inflicting atrocities on students. Such brutality should not happen. We assured Devendra Mahato of our support. Our team in Jharkhand is working with the students."

Around 110 ABVP workers were detained on Tuesday during their march to the Jharkhand Assembly here to protest against police action on students agitating over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state, a senior officer said.

The detention was made as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) started their procession from the old Vidhan Sabha area here, he said.

The BJP on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of being either "culpable" or "incapable" of taking action against the Jharkhand government over the alleged police action against protesting job aspirants.

The party also slammed Gandhi for "running away" from a debate in Parliament on student protests in Jharkhand, where the Congress is part of the ruling alliance.

NDA and Opposition INDIA bloc MPs came face-to-face at Parliament's main gate on Tuesday, as per a PTI report.

Security personnel formed a cordon between the two sides as they staged protests and raised counter-slogans over "brutal" police action on job aspirants in Jharkhand and issues surrounding the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Azad Samaj Party (Kanshiram) chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad told ANI, "The issues of students of Jharkhand and Lucknow must be raised. Wherever they want—be it Allahabad or Lucknow—all those issues should be raised, and they should get justice. Today, the governments have become insensitive, and they will have to bear the consequences."

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has backed protesting students in Jharkhand and urged the state government to address their demands immediately. His remarks came after police used water cannons and lathis during a march by JPSC-JSSC aspirants in Ranchi over alleged examination irregularities.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which strongly condemned the alleged police atrocities on students, will take out a 'Vidhan Sabha March'.

They will hold the procession from the old Vidhan Sabha to the new assembly premises.

Most schools and business establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was very low in the state capital Ranchi and several other cities, PTI reported.

Jharkhand Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari reached Sadar Hospital and met Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto and other youths, who have been admitted to the Hospital in Ranchi following a day-long protest outside the State Assembly yesterday.

Protests in Jharkhand continued on Tuesday, with the BJP calling for a statewide bandh. BJP workers could be seen sitting on the road at Harmu Chowk, Ranchi, shouting slogans against the state government, as per a video released by ANI.