Four Congress ministers in Jharkhand on Wednesday, 12 August jointly accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to hijack student protests over alleged recruitment irregularities to engineer political unrest, claiming the opposition had mobilised workers from neighbouring states to escalate the agitation. The ministers made these allegations at a joint press conference in Ranchi, as student demonstrations over the conduct of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) examinations continued.

What the Ministers Alleged

Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, Health Minister Irfan Ansari, Rural Development Minister Deepika Pandey Singh, and Agriculture Minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey alleged that the BJP was trying to 'bake political bread' over students' genuine grievances. Kishore claimed that BJP workers from Bihar, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh were brought into the state to create disturbances, and that the government and administration exercised restraint despite the provocation.

Kishore further noted that the state government had been prepared to discuss JPSC and JSSC recruitment issues in the Assembly on 10 August, but the BJP chose to organise a march toward the Chief Minister's residence instead of engaging in legislative debate. He described protesters reaching the Assembly gates as a serious threat to parliamentary norms and called for a high-level investigation into the sequence of events.

Health Minister's Midnight Visit to Hunger Striker

Health Minister Ansari said he visited Ranchi's Sadar Hospital late at night without security to meet student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who was on a hunger strike. Ansari claimed that Mahto himself acknowledged that certain elements were attempting to divert the movement from its original objectives. The minister added that the government had already accepted nearly 95 per cent of the students' demands and remained open to dialogue on the rest.

Paper Leaks, Past Failures, and Political Blame

Rural Development Minister Singh expressed regret over injuries sustained by students during the agitation and reaffirmed the government's commitment to resolving matters through dialogue. She alleged that 152 cases of paper leaks had surfaced in the state between 2015 and the present, yet not a single accused had been punished. She further alleged that the BJP began attempting to redirect the investigation after the current government initiated action on the issue.

Agriculture Minister Tirkey demanded a public apology from BJP state President Aditya Sahu over allegations levelled against the government, and rejected BJP accusations concerning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. She stated that police had acted in accordance with established protocols while managing the protests.

Government's Position on Student Demands

The four ministers collectively reiterated that the government was serious about ensuring a fair probe into JPSC and JSSC examination irregularities and was committed to systemic reforms in the recruitment process. They stressed that issues concerning students' futures should not be reduced to political confrontation, and that dialogue remained the preferred path to resolution.

With student protests ongoing and the opposition continuing to press the government, the coming days will test whether the ruling alliance can separate legitimate grievances from what it describes as orchestrated political interference.