STUDENT protesters on Friday said they would continue their agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment exams despite holding talks with the State Government, saying they would not stop the stir till all their demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC exam, are met. They also said they would march to the State Assembly on August 10 if their demands were not met by Sunday. The first round of talks between the Government and a 10-member delegation of the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch was held here on Friday evening. “The meeting with the Jharkhand Government was held in a positive atmosphere. It assured us that our demands would be considered. However, we have decided to continue our protest till all our demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, are met,” a leader of the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch told reporters after the meeting. State Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar said the Government was sensitive to the students’ concerns. “We met the delegation of student protesters. The Government is sensitive to their demands and is ready to consider them sympathetically. The outcome will be visible soon,” Kumar told reporters.

 

Meanwhile, another group of protesters led by Devendra Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for the past six days, claimed that it had received an invitation from the Government for talks. The Mahto-led group said it had submitted the names of an eight-member delegation to the Government for discussions. Earlier in the day, the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch submitted a fresh 10-member panel to the government after it objected to the earlier 11-member delegation, which included an advocate and two technical experts. Members of the new delegation are student leaders Ravindra Paswan, Piyush Kumar, Rajesh Prasad, Neetu Kujur, Ankit Raj, Kartik Soren, Shalu Kumari, among others. Earlier in the day, one of the six protesters, who have been on a hunger strike, was taken to a hospital here after his health condition deteriorated on Friday, an official said.

 

The student leader, identified as Rahul Kranti, who has been on fast since Tuesday night, was taken in an ambulance to the Ranchi Sadar hospital for treatment, he said. Man throws ink at AISA’s Neha Bora, detained: A man threw ink at All India Students’ Association president Neha Bora during a protest march to the Jharkhand Assembly here on Friday over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in the state, accusing her of being “anti-national”. The incident occurred near Birsa Chowk when the protesters led by two students’ organisations - AISA and AISF - were marching towards the assembly. Reacting to the incident, Bora said, “I am not going to be scared by throwing of ink as I faced pellet-gun fire and baton charge in Delhi protest.”