Jharkhand students protest LIVE updates: Govt announces fresh talks; student body alleges 'political manoeuvring'

The Jharkhand government has announced fresh talks with student groups amid a massive agitation over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). The protests, which have entered their 15th day, are led by various student outfits, including the JLKM, NSUI, Adivasis Chatra Sangh (ACS), and Jharkhand Chatra Manch (JCM).

According to the Hindustan Times, a four-member cabinet ministers' panel met with different factions of protesters on Saturday, including JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a fast over the issue for seven days. The panel also met with delegations from the Congress-backed NSUI, ACS, and JMM-backed JCM. The government had held similar talks with a 10-member delegation of the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch on Friday night.

The state labour minister, Sanjay Prasad Yadav, a member of the panel, said that the demands of the protesting aspirants are genuine. The government has also issued an email ID seeking feedback from stakeholders. The protests will continue until all demands are met, according to the protesting aspirants.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Hindu, Live Mint, Hindustan Times — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.