BEST Workers Union decides to start strike in Mumbai over demands for salary and gratuity

Former Chief Minister and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Raghuvir Das, participated in a student demonstration in Ranchi protesting alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC exams. He addressed the protesters at the Jayapala Singh Munda stadium and issued an ultimatum to the state government, demanding a CBI investigation within a week. Das warned that if the government fails to meet these demands, he himself will go on a hunger strike at the same location.

Furthermore, the former Chief Minister visited Sadar Hospital to check on candidates who were injured as a result of police action near the state legislative assembly building, learning about their condition. After meeting with the injured, Das stated: 'It seems even the British government did not treat our children this way. I strongly condemn how our children were beaten, how the police attacked them. I want to ask the minister and opposition leader in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, whose support the government receives...'

He accused the JMM government of playing with the future of millions of students. The former Chief Minister demanded compensation of 1–10 million rupees for the families of 19 people who died during the physical test for the post of excise constable in 2024. He also claimed that more than 15 candidates died during this exam, which indicates the failure of the Hemant Soren government. Raghuvir Das emphasized that the government is playing with the future of a huge number of students.

Meanwhile, the All India Students' Union (ABVP) announced a nationwide campaign on this issue. ABVP National General Secretary Virendra Singh Solanki announced that the organization would hold protests in over 1200 universities and in every district of the country. He demanded the immediate cancellation of the JSSC CGL exam and a CBI investigation. Solanki stated that the voice of students cannot be suppressed by lathi charges, arrests, and repression. ABVP leader Virendra Singh Solanki questioned the work and reliability of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government, noting that frequent changes in the formation and reorganization of the SIT have undermined student trust in the investigation. He insisted that the student movement would continue until all demands are met. On Tuesday, about 110 ABVP activists were detained by the police during a march to the legislative assembly.

Four ministers of the JMM-Congress coalition sharply criticized the BJP. Radha Krishna Kishor accused the BJP of involving people from other states to incite peaceful student protests and called on the Chief Minister to identify and take action against such elements. The ministers rejected the demand for a CBI investigation, defending the state investigation process. BJP President and opposition leader Babul Lal Marandi accused the Ranchi administration of cutting off electricity late at night at the Jayapala Singh Munda stadium and pressuring students to remove them. However, Ranchi Deputy Chief Manjunath Bhajmantri and Senior Police Inspector Rakesh Ranjan refuted these allegations, stating that officials simply visited the protesting students to check on their condition and ensure their safety.

Student protests in Jharkhand have been ongoing for 19 days due to alleged irregularities in the JPSC and JSSC exams. JLKM leader Devendra Mahto has been on a hunger strike for 11 days, despite being hospitalized. In light of this, students have issued a warning about the start of a large-scale movement.

Wednesday marked the eleventh day of the hunger strike by Devendra Nat Mahto, leader of the Jharkhand Democratic Revolutionary Front (JLKM). He continued his fast while in the hospital. Despite feeling unwell, on August 10, he participated in surrounding the legislative assembly building with students before being admitted to Sadar Hospital.

Recently, Devendra Nat Mahto released a video from the hospital, stating that his hunger strike continues even while hospitalized and will last until the students' demands are heard.

At the Jai Pal Singh Munda square, protesting students warned that they would conduct a massive protest if their demands were not met. Students claim that during the surrounding of the legislative assembly on August 10, the police used batons, tear gas, and water cannons against them.

Student movement leader Ravindra Paswan stated that despite all attempts by the police to stop the march to the legislative assembly, about 50,000 students participated. He thanked everyone for the success of this march. He also reported that although the police supported them for five hours, panic suddenly set in, and people started running in different directions, accusing the police of attacking students with batons.

Another student leader, Piyush Kumar, also stated that batons were used against students during the surrounding of the legislative assembly. He emphasized that they have been conducting peaceful demonstrations to achieve their goals for many days, but if the government does not agree, they will have to take more decisive steps.

He added: 'We are still ready for negotiations with the government, but that does not mean they can use batons against students.' He called on the head of the government to meet with the students as soon as possible and listen to their demands. He warned that if their demands are not met, they will turn this protest into a 'mass movement.'

Students have been protesting against the irregularity of the JPSC and JSSC exams for the past 18 days. Their demand is for the government to launch a CBI investigation into the JSSC-CGL exam. Meanwhile, the state government has already transferred this matter to the ED.