Rahul Gandhi condemns police force on Jharkhand student protesters

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned police action against student protesters in Jharkhand on Monday, August 10, 2026, calling the use of force "wrong" and urging the state government to resolve their grievances through dialogue. His remarks came as clashes erupted in Ranchi during a march toward the state Assembly, where police used tear gas, water cannons, and lathi-charges against demonstrators who attempted to breach barricades.

The protests, organized by the JPSC-JSSC Reform Morcha, have been ongoing for 17 days. Demonstrators are demanding reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, alleging irregularities in recruitment examinations. The march on Monday began outside the old Assembly complex in Dhurwa, coinciding with Chief Minister Hemant Soren's 51st birthday.

Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, stated on social media that students have a fundamental right to peaceful protest and that only dialogue can yield solutions. He called on the Jharkhand government, led by an alliance that includes his Congress party, to hear the students and resolve their issues immediately. At a press conference, he...