Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. File
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) hailed the “understanding” reached between protesting students and the Jharkhand government, saying it was the “right way” as Chief Minister Hemant Soren chose dialogue while the students exercised restraint and got their demands accepted.
Mr. Gandhi also vowed to change the system across the country to establish a framework that propels students forward rather than holds them back.
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“An understanding has been reached between the students of Jharkhand and the state government, and the students have ended their hunger strike – it was heartening to hear this news,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
“Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji and the Jharkhand government chose the path of dialogue and arrived at a solution. The students exercised restraint and made their demands accepted,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
This is the right way – when students raise questions, they should get answers, he said.
“We stand with every student in the country. And we will uproot and transform this recovery system, so that every student gets the full reward of their hard work and the right to fair competition,” Mr. Gandhi said.
This system will change across the country, and a framework will be established that propels students forward, rather than holding them back, the former Congress chief said.
Mr. Gandhi had written to CM Soren, urging him to personally meet representatives of the protesting students and take appropriate action to resolve the issue. He had said the students’ protest was peaceful and their demands legitimate, while asserting that the youth of India was its future and that “we owe them our solidarity and support at this moment of crisis”.
The Congress is part of the ruling JMM-led government in Jharkhand.
Students protesting against alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations may take a call on withdrawing their demonstration on Tuesday after the state government cancelled all recruitment tests, including the JSSC-CGL exam, conducted by an outsourced agency since 2014.
The announcement came after Mr. Soren chaired a marathon Cabinet meeting at the state secretariat on Monday (August 17, 2026). He also said an exam reforms committee headed by senior IAS officer Amitabh Kaushal would recommend measures to strengthen the recruitment examination process.
“The government has decided to cancel the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level (JSSC-CGL) exam, which was one of the major demands of the protesting students. We have also decided to cancel all tests conducted by outsourced agency TSR Data Processing Pvt Ltd (TDPL) and the results published by it,” Mr. Soren had told reporters after the meeting.
Student leader Devendra Mahto, who had been on hunger strike for 16 days over the alleged exam irregularities, ended his fast around midnight.
Two protesters, Prem Nayak and Umme Habiba, also called off their hunger strike, while three others – Rahul Kranti, Sabita Kumari and Rupesh Pal – continued their fast.
Students were seen celebrating and waving the Tricolour after the announcement.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk congratulated Mr. Mahto over a video call, describing the government’s decision as a “victory for everyone”.
Published – August 18, 2026 02:59 pm IST
