Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Opposition parties slam police crackdown on Jharkhand exam-graft protesters
Many students in a place called Jharkhand, in India, were angry about problems with their exams.
They thought the exams were unfair, so they marched to the government building.
The police used water cannons, tear gas and sticks to stop them.
Some grown-up leaders thought the police were too rough with the students.
Leaders from different political parties, like Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, said hurting students is not okay.
They said the government should talk to the students instead of fighting them.
The person in charge of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, said the government already agreed to cancel some exams.
He blamed another political group, the BJP, for making the protest violent.
Other people shared videos saying some troublemakers were causing fights on purpose.
Everyone wants the students to be safe and their problems to be solved fairly.
Opposition parties condemned police use of water cannons, tear gas and lathi charges against students protesting outside the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi.
Rahul Gandhi, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and CPI leader D. Raja backed the students' demands and called violence against them unacceptable.
P. Chidambaram compared the students to the Jantar Mantar protesters and said police action shamed the police and their political masters.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the government agreed to cancel certain exams and accused the BJP of turning the youth movement into a political platform.
AISA and Congress Congress shared videos accusing BJP supporters of stone-pelting and alleged troublemakers were brought in from Bengal to discredit the movement.
- Who
- Students in Jharkhand protesting exam irregularities, and Indian opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, P. Chidambaram, D. Raja and Awadhesh Prasad; Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the ruling JMM-led government.
- What
- A police crackdown using water cannons, tear gas and lathi charges on students marching to the Jharkhand Assembly, prompting condemnation from opposition parties.
- When
- On Monday, during the students' march to the Assembly, with reactions continuing on Tuesday.
- Where
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, outside the Jharkhand Assembly.
- Why
- Students were demanding action and accountability over alleged exam-graft, and the government's use of force against them drew sharp criticism.
Opposition parties and student supporters
Jharkhand government and ruling JMM-led coalition
Police action against protesters
Opposition parties and student supporters
Water cannons, tear gas and lathi charges against peacefully gathered students are unacceptable; engagement and dialogue, not force, must be the government's response.
Jharkhand government and ruling JMM-led coalition
The protest became a law-and-order problem involving violence and anti-social elements, and the government says it has already met student demands by agreeing to cancel certain exams.
Who fuelled the violence
Opposition parties and student supporters
Congress and AISA shared videos accusing BJP supporters of stone-pelting and alleged troublemakers were brought from Bengal to criminalise the student movement.
Jharkhand government and ruling JMM-led coalition
Chief Minister Hemant Soren accused the 'parasitic BJP' of trying to turn the youth movement into its political platform.
- Location
- Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
- Date
- Monday, with reactions continuing on Tuesday
- Protest target
- Jharkhand Assembly
- Demand
- Action against exam irregularities; cancellation of certain exams
- Police actions reported
- Water cannons, tear gas, lathi charge
- Key critics
- Congress, AAP, CPI, Samajwadi Party, AISA, CPIML-Liberation
- Government response
- CM Hemant Soren said the government agreed to cancel certain exams
- Disputed allegation
- BJP accused of bringing anti-social elements; party not quoted in response