Students protesting the alleged irregularities in the recruitment examinations under the banner of JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch on Tuesday announced that they would continue the agitation till all demands are met.
The Manch members who took part in a 'silent procession' here in the evening said they have decided to intensify the agitation, and details will be shared soon.
"We hoped the state government would come out with some positive message for the students after Monday's protest, in which over 50,000 students from across the state participated," he said.
Several ABVP workers were detained during their march to the Jharkhand Assembly here to protest against police action on students agitating over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state, a senior officer said.
The detention was made as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) started their procession from the old Vidhan Sabha area here, he said.
Meanwhile, clashes broke out between ABVP workers and police as protesters refused to allow the bus carrying the detained workers to move.
Most schools and business establishments remained closed, while vehicular movement was very low in the state capital Ranchi and several other cities.
They also burnt tyres at Harmu Chowk and Kishorganj Chowk, a senior officer said.
The shutdown, announced after the police used water cannons, tear gas shells and batons against protesters in Ranchi on Monday, was being observed from 8 am to midnight, with essential services kept outside its purview, BJP state president Aditya Sahu said.
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday extended support to protesting students in Jharkhand and urged the state government to resolve their demands, saying that violence against students was "simply unacceptable".
"I support the demands of the protesting students in Jharkhand and appeal to the govt to resolve their issues immediately. Violence against students is simply unacceptable," Kejriwal said in a post on X.
Meanwhile BJP MP from Jharkhand's Deoghar, Nishikant Dubey, slammed the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his ‘duplicitous mindset’ and challenged him to withdraw support from the Jharkhand government following the alleged lathi-charge on student protesters in Ranchi. He also accused the LoP of practising "double standards".
At the same time Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday accused the BJP of misleading protesting job aspirants and using them as a "political tool", asserting that his government accepted most of the demands of the agitators and was ready to undertake further reforms in the recruitment examination system.
"The BJP, like a parasite, yesterday tried to turn the youth's movement into its own political platform. Matters concerning students will be discussed with the students themselves, and my young friends in Jharkhand will certainly get justice," Soren said.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday denounced the police action on students protesting in Ranchi against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in Jharkhand and said it was a repeat of what happened in Delhi last month.
''What happened in Jharkhand yesterday was too bad. We saw the same thing happening earlier in Jantar Mantar (Delhi on July 20). Lathis and tear gas were used (against agitating students in the national capital during 'Sansad Chalo' march). I don't understand why lathis and tear gas are not used when political parties protest. Why are they used only against students?'' he asked.
Meanwhile The health condition of two protesters, who have been on hunger strike for over a week against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations, is stable, doctors said on Tuesday.
Both of them were undergoing treatment at Ranchi Sadar Hospital.
“JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, admitted in the emergency ward of the hospital, is still on fast, but his health condition is stable,” Dr Bimlesh Kumar Singh, the Deputy Superintendent (DS) of Sadar Hospital, told PTI.
Mahto has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 days to protest against the alleged irregularities. Mahto was admitted to the hospital on Monday after his health deteriorated following his participation in the march to the Jharkhand assembly in Ranchi by the agitating students.
The agitating students refused to call off their stir on Tuesday and took out a "silent procession" on the 18th day of the protest, even as Chief Minister Hemant Soren made a fresh promise for exam reforms.