Indian student leader ends hunger strike after 16 days
Devendra Nath Mahto was part of a larger protest which began weeks ago, demanding exam reforms in Jharkhand state.
Indian student leader Devendra Nath Mahto has concluded his 16-day hunger strike.
The student activist in India's eastern Jharkhand state ended his fast after the government acceded to protesters' demands to annul a contentious recruitment examination. However, demonstrators state they will persist with protests until India's primary investigative body initiates an inquiry into alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams.
Devendra Nath Mahto ceased his fast at a hospital in the capital Ranchi, where he was admitted last week due to declining health. State ministers were present at the time. He was a prominent figure in the protests, which commenced on July 25 following allegations of irregularities in government recruitment exams and calls for reforms by job-seekers and students.
Government positions in India are highly coveted for their stability and security. Millions of individuals annually take these exams across states and nationally, often attending coaching classes, until they reach the mandated age limit. Nevertheless, several exams have become embroiled in controversy due to allegations of leaked question papers and candidates employing illicit methods. Even for many who qualify, uncertainty persists as the recruitment process can extend for years.
In Jharkhand, the protests began after last month's preliminary civil service exam results. Some candidates alleged that answer sheets shared online indicated successful applicants had answered fewer questions than anticipated, fueling suspicions of manipulation. This followed a larger protest in the Indian capital Delhi, which culminated in the federal education minister's resignation, thereby increasing pressure on Chief Minister Hemant Soren's government.
The state government agreed to cancel the preliminary exam days ago and announced an investigation by the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which has apprehended several individuals, including the chief of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. However, protesters had insisted on the cancellation of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) examination and also demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Students in Jharkhand have been engaged in a sit-in protest since July 25.
On Monday night, Soren declared that this exam would also be scrapped. The chief minister informed reporters that "many shocking facts are emerging" as part of the CID's investigation into the exam irregularities but did not provide further details, stating that "the matter is under investigation." He also announced that all exams conducted by private agency TSR Data Processing Private Limited (TDPL), which had won a tender, would be cancelled. Additionally, he announced an investigation into recruitment exams held since 2014; it remains unclear what would happen to candidates who cleared those exams if the investigation uncovers any irregularities. A committee will also be established to recommend reforms to the state's examination system.
The announcement triggered celebrations among protesters, who danced and cheered at a stadium in Ranchi, where they have been camping since July 25. However, some stated they would continue their protest until the CBI investigation was announced. "Until that demand is met, we will not move from here," student activist Ravindra Paswan told news agency ANI.
The protests had put the government – an alliance comprising Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress, and some other parties – on the defensive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in opposition in the state, has been supporting the protesters. Reports indicate that the government's decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL exam has provoked a backlash from successful candidates who had already secured government jobs.