Students and job aspirants protesting alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations took out a Tiranga Yatra in Ranchi on Saturday and announced plans to gherao Chief Minister Hemant Soren's residence on August 20. The protesters, whose agitation entered its 22nd day, demanded the chief minister's resignation and accused the ruling JMM-Congress alliance of failing to take concrete action on their concerns. They also announced plans to burn effigies of Soren and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi across all 24 districts on Sunday.

The protesters are seeking greater transparency and reforms in the recruitment examination system, including cancellation of examinations where they allege irregularities occurred. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch has demanded either a CBI investigation or an inquiry by a panel of retired judges from outside Jharkhand. It has also sought cancellation of the JSSC-CGL examination and certain JPSC examinations that the group considers suspicious.

"We will gherao the chief minister's residence on August 20," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch leader Ravindra Paswan said. The protesters also urged Rahul Gandhi to withdraw Congress support from the JMM-led government if their concerns are not addressed. They argued that Gandhi had expressed support for students but that no concrete action had followed. The protesters have appealed to job aspirants from across Jharkhand to join the proposed demonstration.

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The Tiranga Yatra began at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, where the agitation is being held, and ended at Albert Ekka Chowk. Thousands of students and job aspirants participated while carrying the national flag and raising slogans including "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram". Two wheelchair-bound protesters were among those on hunger strike, while JLKM leader Devendra Mahto, who had been fasting for 14 days, alleged that police prevented him from leaving Sadar Hospital to participate in the march.

The protesters maintained that their movement was about the credibility of Jharkhand's entire recruitment system rather than individual examinations. Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP MLA Champai Soren also criticised the state government and questioned its reluctance to recommend a CBI probe. He argued that students had been compelled to continue their agitation away from their homes and challenged the government to seek a central investigation if it had nothing to hide.

The state government has meanwhile announced measures aimed at strengthening transparency and security in recruitment examinations. In his Independence Day address, Hemant Soren acknowledged that questions surrounding recruitment examinations had affected the confidence of job aspirants and assured them that alleged irregularities would be investigated impartially. The proposed reforms include a time-bound annual examination calendar, technology-secured examinations, timely publication of answer keys and OMR sheets, and multi-level accountability. Soren also cautioned against declaring anyone guilty without evidence and stressed the need for systemic measures to prevent future manipulation.

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