The Jharkhand BJP has announced a statewide shutdown, or ‘Jharkhand bandh,’ on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in protest against the police crackdown on students who were demonstrating against the state government. The shutdown will begin at 8:00 a.m. and will exempt essential services. BJP State President Aditya Sahu made the announcement during a joint press conference with Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi.
Mr. Sahu stated that the Jharkhand bandh is a response to the Hemant government’s repressive attitude towards the students, who have been demanding a CBI inquiry into all recruitment exams held over the last seven years, including the 14th JPSC Preliminary Exam. The BJP strongly condemns the lathi charge on the students, which resulted in hundreds of injuries and reports of several students going missing.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, however, extended his thanks to the police officials for handling the situation with sensitivity and responsibility. In a message on X, Mr. Soren addressed the youths, saying that the government has heard their demands and will take action with utmost seriousness and sensitivity. He also pointed out that the government wants to make the examination system more transparent, technology-enabled, secure, and accountable.
Mr. Soren appealed to the students not to fall into the trap of any political narrative, asserting that students are the future of Jharkhand. He emphasized that the government is committed to resolving the issue through dialogue and trust. The BJP, on the other hand, has criticized the Congress’s silence on the issue and has targeted Rahul Gandhi over the Jharkhand students’ stir.
The situation in Jharkhand remains tense, with the BJP and the state government at odds over the handling of the student protests. The Jharkhand bandh is expected to cause disruptions across the state, with only essential services remaining operational.
