Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday (August 9, 2026) assured students protesting in Ranchi that the State government was fully committed to safeguarding their rights and future. It was the government’s responsibility to ensure justice for the youth protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, Mr. Soren said.

Hundreds of students have been protesting at Ranchi’s Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for the past 16 days against alleged irregularities in competitive exams for government jobs in the State, including in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission Combined Civil Services Examination, and the Jharkhand General Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination.

While addressing the Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav currently underway in Ranchi, Mr. Soren said the strictest action would be taken against those held responsible for the irregularities, and the individuals involved had already been identified.

“Young students are currently staging protests regarding certain issues. I want to send a clear and open message to all students, a message I always convey — that we operate a vast system, and our intentions regarding the people of this State have always been deeply sensitive,” Mr. Soren said. He was accompanied by his wife and MLA from Gandey Kalpana Soren.

“Whether they are residents of villages or small towns, farmers, labourers, women, educated youth, or those with little to no formal education, we are concerned about the well-being of everyone. Regarding the issue for which our youth are currently agitating and protesting, the government is indeed listening to their grievances,” Mr. Soren said.

It was precisely because of government activities that students participating in the movement had gathered the courage to demand their rights and stage a protest, the CM said.

“Have faith, we were born of this soil and will be laid to rest in this very soil. No one needs to see this protest from a political lens. But there are certain individuals having vast political ambitions, and this ambition creates a path for political parties to mislead the youth. I would specifically tell the youth: you do not need the patronage of anyone — neither ours nor anyone else’s. You are students, you have rights, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure you receive those rights and secure justice — a responsibility that will be fulfilled,” Mr. Soren said.

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“Many are eyeing the youth. Political parties are actively working on a large scale to mislead them by contaminating the truth with falsehoods,” he said..

“Prominent intellectuals and highly educated, knowledgeable individuals are involved in this — people who are experts in their fields — and I am witnessing the consequences that arise when such learned individuals engage in misguided activities. Therefore, speaking with absolute clarity and fearlessness — the government will not listen to your views solely through the medium of protests. We will make an effort to ensure that the voices of the youth, right from their very homes, reach our ears,” Mr. Soren said.

Attempts were being made to intimidate the youth, and there were also efforts by the media to scare and malign the students, the CM said, adding, “When that did not work, attempts were made to injure or kill them using batons, bullets, and pellet guns. When even that failed, they were branded as traitors.”

He emphasised that every problem could be resolved through dialogue and not through the use of batons and bullets. “Forces such as batons and bullets are meant for enemies at the borders, not for one’s own countrymen. Resorting to such measures does not solve problems. Instead, it only worsens them,” Mr. Soren said.

“I am not old either. Your problems are our problems. I assure you completely that justice will be served, and it will be done transparently,” Mr. Soren said, addressing the youth from a stage at the tribal festival.

Published - August 09, 2026 09:16 pm IST