The Indian National Congress on Thursday, 6 August defended the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government over its handling of the intensifying student protests against alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment examinations, even as the state government prepared to hold talks with a student delegation the same day. Congress leaders maintained that the party stands by the students' legitimate demands while backing a dialogue-first approach to resolve the standoff.

What Congress Leaders Said

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari drew a pointed contrast between the Jharkhand government's response and the handling of protests elsewhere, particularly at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. 'We support every moral demand of the students. The only difference is that nail-studded batons were not used in Jharkhand, nor were pellet guns used. We support the steps taken by the Jharkhand government so far in this matter. The students' problems will be resolved through dialogue,' Tiwari said.

Congress MP Pawan Khera echoed the position, noting that senior party leaders had visited the protest site on Wednesday and remained in active contact with the agitating students. 'What happened here has not happened anywhere else,' Khera said, without elaborating.

BJP Accused of Politicising the Issue

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners of exploiting the student unrest rather than addressing it. 'The Bharatiya Janata Party and all the NDA constituents are looking for excuses. They have nothing to do with the problems of students. Hemant Soren himself is young and sensitive, and our Congress members are in touch with him,' Bhagat said.

Bhagat also cited a statistical defence of the Soren government's record, claiming that the BJP conducted only five examinations in Jharkhand over 16 years — with not a single examination during its last term — while the current government has held nine examinations since coming to power. He added that the JPSC chairman was removed after irregularities were detected in OMR sheets, and that 19 people have since been arrested in connection with the matter.

Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also backed the student movement, calling the protesters' concerns justified. 'Hemant Soren ji has taken cognisance of the situation, and that is why the raids started even before the movement began,' Thakur said.

Protest at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium

The demonstration, centred at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, has gathered pace over the past two weeks. Representatives from multiple student groups arrived at the venue on Thursday morning to express solidarity with the agitating aspirants. Notably, continuous overnight rainfall failed to dislodge the protesters, who reaffirmed they would not call off the agitation until their demands — primarily greater transparency and accountability in the examination system — are formally addressed.

Talks Scheduled, Outcome Awaited

A student delegation has been granted an appointment with representatives of the Jharkhand government for talks on Thursday. The outcome of the meeting is being closely watched by aspirants and political observers alike, as protesters hope the dialogue will open a credible path toward resolving their grievances. The Congress, meanwhile, has said it wants complete transparency in the JPSC recruitment process and that public confidence in the commission must be preserved.