Ranchi Protest Viral News: A Jharkhand student protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment exams took an unusual turn on Monday when a man dressed as Pushpa, the popular film character played by Allu Arjun, joined the students’ Vidhan Sabha Gherao march in Ranchi.
Dressed in the character’s trademark style, the protester said he had come to demonstrate “in Pushpa style” and used the film’s defiant persona to deliver a message to the government. “Jharkhand ke students jhukenge nahi, rukenge nahi, jab tak nyay milega nahi,” he said, meaning that the state’s students would neither bow nor stop until they got justice.
Explaining why he chose the character, he said he wanted the students’ protest to reach the national media. He also pointed to the support that other student protests have received from actors and influencers. “People told me that big actors and influencers reached Jantar Mantar to support that protest. These people are also students, we should not discriminate,” he said.
He appealed to the government to heed the protesters’ demands, adding that just as parents eventually give in to their children’s genuine demands, the government should likewise respond to the students.
Pushpa Wasn’t The Only Unusual Sight At The Protest
The Pushpa-inspired appearance was not the only striking moment at the Ranchi protest. Another protester was seen dressed as Spider-Man as students gathered for the Assembly march, adding an unusual visual element to an otherwise tense demonstration.
The costumes appeared to be aimed at attracting wider attention to the students’ prolonged agitation, which has been running for more than two weeks.
Thousands Of Students March Towards Assembly
The colourful appearances came against the backdrop of a major mobilisation by students and job aspirants in Ranchi.
Thousands of protesters began their march from the Old Vidhan Sabha at around 10 am and walked nearly 3 km towards the Jharkhand Assembly. They were stopped about 1.5 km from the Assembly, where multiple layers of barricades had been installed and a large number of police and security personnel deployed.
Police repeatedly appealed to the protesters through loudspeakers to maintain peace. “Aap hamare bhai-behen hain, shanti banaye rakhein” — you are our brothers and sisters, please maintain peace, police told the crowd.
The first heavy barricade, however, was breached as protesters pushed forward towards the Assembly. Police then used lathis to push the crowd back, while tear-gas arrangements had also been made in the area.
A woman protester, amid the commotion, insisted that the students were demonstrating peacefully. “We are being peaceful. We are here for our rights. Peaceful protest is our right,” she said.
The crowd also raised slogans demanding their rights, including, “Chheen ke Jharkhand maanga hai, cheen ke adhikar maangenge” — we fought to get Jharkhand and will fight to get our rights.
Why Are Jharkhand Students Protesting?
The students have been protesting against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. Their demands include cancellation of the JSSC Combined Graduate Level examination and a CBI investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment exams.
The protesters have also raised concerns over other recruitment examinations conducted since 2019 and have demanded action against those allegedly responsible for irregularities.
Government Says It Has Agreed To 98% Of Demands
The Assembly march came a day after a marathon meeting between the Jharkhand government and a delegation of protesting students in Ranchi.
Following the meeting, the government said it had agreed to 98% of the students’ demands, including the possibility of an Enforcement Directorate probe into alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC Combined Civil Services Examination.
However, the government did not agree to the students’ demand for cancellation of the JSSC CGL examination or a CBI investigation into the alleged irregularities.
The disagreement over these key demands led the students to go ahead with their planned Assembly march.
Students Travel Overnight To Reach Ranchi
For many protesters, reaching the demonstration itself was difficult. Students from Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Bokaro and other parts of Jharkhand travelled overnight by trains, autos and motorcycles to join the march.
Students alleged that police stopped hundreds of aspirants travelling towards Ranchi at different points.
Durgesh Kumar, 24, said his car was stopped while he was travelling to Ranchi on Sunday night. He eventually managed to enter the city in an Omni van. “They stopped me and my friends, but I managed to come. There were thousands like us who were stopped. But see the crowd. These students are unstoppable,” he said.
Hunger-Striking Student Leader Carries Shibu Soren’s Photograph
Another emotional moment came when student leader Devendra Nath Mahato, who has been on hunger strike for several days, reached the protest site.
Mahato, who said he was unable to walk properly, was lifted above the crowd. He carried a photograph of former Jharkhand chief minister and movement leader Shibu Soren, who died recently. “Guruji Shibu Soren fought all his life, he led movements all his life. Had he been alive, he would have joined our protest,” Mahato said.
He said he had come despite the possibility of a confrontation with the police. “I have come here risking my life. I cannot walk. There could be a clash with police at any moment, there could be a stampede. I know I cannot run. They can lob tear-gas shells,” he said.
Mahato added that the protest would continue until the government listened to the students.
Security Tightened Ahead Of Assembly March
The Ranchi administration had made extensive security arrangements ahead of the march.
Multiple barricades were installed along the route to the Assembly, with heavy police deployment and tear-gas arrangements. Police had also imposed prohibitory orders within a 750-metre radius of the Assembly from August 6 to August 12, between 6 am and 10 pm.
Ranchi City SP Paras Rana said the police had been preparing for the march and wanted to ensure that it remained peaceful. He said students would not be allowed to move beyond a designated point and that police would not use forceup to that point.
The administration had repeatedly appealed to protesters to remain disciplined and prevent anti-social elements from joining the demonstration.
Protesters Even Planned A Birthday For Hemant Soren
Monday’s protest also coincided with Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s birthday.
One protester said the students planned to cut a cake for the Chief Minister at the protest site. “He should accept our demands and give us a party,” the protester said.
Political Leaders Join The Students’ Cause
The protest has also drawn political support. Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato said opposition parties would naturally extend some support but stressed that the agitation belonged to the students. “Students are agitated. It is their protest. If their demands are met, they won’t protest,” Mahato said, adding that he would join the Vidhan Sabha Gherao march.
For the students, however, the message remains unchanged: whether delivered in the voice of a hunger-striking protest leader, through a Spider-Man costume or in full Pushpa style: they say the agitation will continue until their demands over the recruitment examinations are addressed.