Ranchi
Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday used the platform of the Adivasi Mahotsav at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium to reach out to young people protesting over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC examinations, assuring them that their concerns would be heard and that justice would be delivered transparently.
Soren said the solution to the issues raised by the protesting youth lay in dialogue and constitutional methods, rather than the use of force. “Justice will be done to my young colleagues with transparency, and that justice will also be seen. Every problem can be resolved through dialogue and constitutional means. No problem can be solved by using batons against people in our own home; it only causes damage,” the Chief Minister said.
“Therefore, from this platform, I especially want to tell my young colleagues that I am not old either. I am also roughly of your generation. Your feelings and your concerns are my concerns. Today, while holding a constitutional office, I assure you that justice will be done to you with transparency and that you will see justice being delivered,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the government would expand its efforts to listen to young people beyond protests and demonstrations.
“I would tell my young colleagues to come to the government fearlessly with their concerns. We will not only listen to them when they take to the streets to protest. We will also make efforts to hear what young people are thinking while sitting at home. We will listen to them through different channels, understand their concerns and build the system accordingly,” Soren said.
He also referred to the constitutional rights of citizens and said attempts were sometimes made to suppress people raising their voices.
“Even today, when someone raises their voice, attempts are made to defame them, suppress them with batons, fire bullets or pellet guns, injure them and sometimes even accuse them of sedition,” he said.
Soren invoked the Constitution drafted under the leadership of BR Ambedkar and said it guaranteed equal rights to every citizen.
“The Constitution of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar gives equal rights to every person in the country, whether rich or poor. But unfortunately, even after so many years of Independence, inequalities continue to exist in society. The poor have become poorer and the rich richer,” he said.
“The greater these inequalities become, the greater the tension in society and the country,” he added.
‘Dialogue, not batons and bullets’
Soren said Jharkhand’s history of struggles for rights should guide the response to present-day grievances. “Jharkhand is not just a state. It is the land of heroes. At a time when the country had not even begun dreaming of Independence, our ancestors were already fighting here,” he said adding “Jharkhand, at 25 years of age, is trying to stand on its own feet. For years, this state was viewed as a pasture”.
He said Jharkhand’s growing strength and potential had led to attempts to mislead young people. “Today, when Jharkhand’s strength and potential are becoming visible, some people are unable to accept it. At times by hiding their faces, at times by changing their faces and at times from behind the scenes, attempts are made to mislead young people by sending them wrong messages,” he said.
He urged young people to remain aware of their identity, rights and the interests of the state. Soren also said political parties across the country were attempting to influence young people by presenting a mixture of truth and falsehood. “Today, political parties across the country are making efforts to mislead young people through a mixture of truth and falsehood. Even highly learned and educated people are involved in this. We can see the adverse consequences this is having on society and the country,” he said.
He appealed to young people to approach the government directly with their grievances.
Soren cautions against political patronage
Speaking specifically about the JPSC-JSSC protest, Soren said political interests could provide an avenue for misleading young people.
“Some people harbour vast political ambitions, and these very ambitions create an avenue for political parties to mislead the younger generation. I would say this specifically to the youth that they do not need our political patronage or that of any other political party. It is your right to receive what is due to you and to get justice,” Soren said.
“Political parties across the country are currently eyeing the youth in various ways, strategising on how to mislead them by mixing truth with falsehood. Work on this is proceeding on a massive scale, involving even highly learned and knowledgeable individuals,” he said.
Soren said the government’s actions had helped bring alleged wrongdoing to light and that students were now exercising their right to protest.
“Our youth are staging protests and agitations to claim their rights. It is precisely because of our government’s actions that they have found the courage to step forward, protest and demand their due, for we have exposed the wrongdoing,” he said.
“The youth will receive justice, and those responsible for the irregularities will face the severest possible punishment. There is no need to view this matter through a political lens or to seek political patronage,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Soren had also said that the solution to every problem lay in dialogue rather than force. “Today, as this administration gains strength, there are many who simply cannot come to terms with it. They resort to hiding their faces, changing their guises, or operating from behind the scenes to spread misinformation and mislead others,” he said.
“The solution to every issue lies in dialogue, not in the use of batons or bullets. Batons and bullets are meant for the borders, for dealing with enemies, with those who are adversaries of the nation. Resorting to force against our own people, within our own home, solves nothing. Your sentiments and your concerns are our concerns. Occupying this constitutional office today, I assure you completely that justice will be served with transparency, and we will ensure that this justice is visibly demonstrated,” he said.
JPSC-JSSC protest enters 16th day
Soren’s remarks came as the JPSC-JSSC aspirants’ protest entered its 16th day in Ranchi.
The agitation was triggered by allegations of irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, with the declaration of the preliminary results of the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination on July 2 becoming a major point of contention.
Student groups have demanded cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities, publication of the investigation report and action against those found responsible. They have also sought reforms in the functioning of JPSC and JSSC.
The government has held several rounds of discussions with representatives of the protesting students. Another round of talks between the student delegation and the ministerial panel constituted by Soren was underway on Sunday. The ministerial panel comprises Dipika Pandey Singh, Sudivya Kumar, Chamra Linda and Sanjay Yadav.
The students have made it clear that they do not want assurances of action at a later date, describing such assurances as a “post-dated cheque”. Six protesters are also on indefinite hunger strike as part of the agitation. The latest talks are aimed at addressing the demands raised by the students and finding a way forward on the issues concerning the recruitment examinations.
Governor asks students to resolve issue through talks
Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar also appealed to the protesting students to resolve their grievances through discussions.
“Regarding the movement our students are carrying out, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has already explained some things in detail. I urge everyone to trust whatever the Chief Minister has said. We do not want to toy with the future of our children. Resolve this by talking it out,” Gangwar said.
“The Chief Minister is very concerned about this and is continuously discussing with us how to resolve the children’s problems. We will get to a solution after holding discussions. The students can meet me or the Chief Minister whenever they feel like,” he said.
Gangwar said the government was openly listening to the protesting students and examining the entire matter seriously.
“The government is openly listening to the concerns of the students who are protesting and is looking at the entire matter seriously. I want to give a clear message to the youth of the state that we have caught the wrongdoing. No guilty person will be spared. The youth will receive justice under all circumstances and those responsible will face the strictest possible punishment,” he said.
Meanwhile, amid the massive protests over the alleged irregularities in recruitment tests conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission. the Governor has accepted the resignations submitted by Ajita Bhattacharya, Anima Hansda, and Jamal Ahmed from their posts as members of the agency, in light of the recommendation made by the State Government.
Piyush Mishra joins Ranchi protest
Actor Piyush Mishra joined the protesting students in Ranchi and questioned the support extended by some prominent public figures to the CJP-led protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Mishra criticised veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah and others for not speaking up for the students protesting in Ranchi, while supporting the CJP protest.
He said: “During the CJP protests, Naseer Sahab remarked that the film industry wasn’t speaking up during that agitation. He said, ‘Those who have bones in their mouths cannot speak.’ Please forgive me, Naseer Sahab, I say this with the utmost respect, but I would like to ask: who are the ‘dogs’ with bones in their mouths right now? The difference between student protests that took place here and ones that took place in Delhi and Mumbai, is that that these people didn’t eat pizza or burgers; they ate ‘dal-bhat’ while waging their struggle. Did you people stay silent simply because you were craving pizza and burgers, or because of the specific crowd you were part of? Forgive me, Naseer Sahab, I respect you greatly, but I no longer feel like being afraid of you.”
Union ministers question Rahul Gandhi’s silence
Union Minister Annapurna Devi questioned Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his silence on the Ranchi protests. Union Minister Sanjay Seth also challenged Gandhi to visit Ranchi and extend support to the protesting students.
Earlier, a BJP delegation led by Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu met the students at the protest site. The BJP has also raised allegations concerning irregularities in the state’s recruitment examinations and demanded action and investigation.
‘Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav Celebrates Tribal Heritage, Identity and Legacy of Jal, Jungle, Zameen‘
Inaugurating the two-day Jharkhand Adivasi Mahotsav 2026, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the day was an occasion for the tribal community to celebrate and preserve its distinct identity. He said the Adivasi Mahotsav had been organised to showcase the rich culture, traditions, lifestyle, art, skills and livelihood practices of tribal communities from Jharkhand and other parts of the country.
The event, he said, offered a glimpse of the diversity of tribal communities while highlighting how they were preserving their traditional identity while moving towards development and a better future. Soren described Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar’s presence as adding dignity to the event and said the Governor was not only the constitutional head of the state but also a guide and widely accepted leader of the tribal community. He said the Tribal Advisory Council functions under the Governor’s guidance and plays an important role in safeguarding tribal interests, promoting their overall development and welfare, and shaping the future direction of the tribal community and society.
Soren said the Adivasi Mahotsav was more than a cultural event and provided an opportunity to remember the tribal community’s heritage, struggles and identity. He said Jharkhand was the land of heroes whose ancestors had fought for their rights, identity and freedom even before the freedom movement had taken shape in many other parts of the country.
He said the state had completed 25 years and was continuing to establish its own identity and stand on its feet. Referring to the tribal relationship with natural resources, Soren said he was proud to be a descendant of those who had fought to protect their rights and jal, jungle, zameen (water, forests and land). These, he said, were not merely resources but were intrinsically connected with the tribal community’s culture and existence, from the beginning to the end of life. He said the festival should become a memorable and inspiring occasion and enable the tribal community to move forward with pride and confidence in its heritage and identity.
