RANCHI — The ongoing agitation against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations in Jharkhand reached a critical juncture on Friday after a student leader on a hunger strike was rushed to the hospital following a steep drop in his health.

Rahul Kranti, who had been fasting since Tuesday night as part of the demonstration organized by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum, was transported via ambulance to Ranchi Sadar Hospital for emergency treatment. According to protesting candidates, appeals were made to local authorities early in the morning for medical monitoring, but health personnel did not arrive at the site until after 8:30 AM.

The agitation in Ranchi against the recruitment processes of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 14th consecutive day on Friday.

Six Protesters on Fast; Health Concerns Mount

Kranti is one of six protesters undertaking a fast-unto-death at the demonstration site. Five students, including two women, joined Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for six days.

The prolonged fast had drawn national attention earlier in the week when climate activist Sonam Wangchuk—who recently completed a 26-day hunger strike in Delhi over the NEET paper leak issue—spoke with Mahto over the phone on Wednesday. Following Wangchuk’s intervention, Mahto agreed to resume water intake, though solid food remains refused.

Political Support Grows as Rahul Gandhi Steps In

The movement has attracted backing from opposition figures. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reached out directly to representatives of the JPSC-JSSC Reform Forum via phone on Thursday evening.

Expressing solidarity with the aspirants, Gandhi advocated for systemic overhauls in educational and recruitment frameworks, assuring the candidates that Congress representatives would take up their grievances in legislative forums.

Aspirants Demand CBI Probe and Structural Reforms

The core demands of the protesting candidates center on accountability and systemic transparency. The aspirants are urging state authorities to:

  • Cancel the 14th Jharkhand PSC Civil Services Examination.

  • Order an independent inquiry into recruitment irregularities, led either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

  • Implement comprehensive administrative reforms within both the JPSC and the JSSC.

Forum Warns of Assembly Gherao on August 10

Despite submitting a formal list of delegates to state authorities, forum leaders Ravindra Paswan and Piyush Kumar Singh confirmed that no official communication or offer for talks has been received from the government so far.

Addressing reporters, student representative Piyush Kumar emphasized that while the platform welcomes moral support from all quarters, it remains strictly non-partisan.

"We are in a wait-and-watch situation. We are still waiting for the government to strike a dialogue with us; they will decide the date and time," Kumar said. "All parties who want to extend moral support are welcome, but our platform will remain a pure students' platform. We will not let our stage turn into a political arena."

The forum reiterated that while the agitation remains peaceful, student groups plan to march toward the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly during its ongoing session. If formal negotiations are not initiated promptly, the forum warned that its planned gherao of the state Assembly on August 10 will proceed as scheduled.