Student protesters in India’s Jharkhand state have demanded Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s resignation over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and announced plans to surround his official residence on August 20. The JPSC-JSSC Reforms Forum said accountability must be ensured and responsibility fixed over the alleged scandal.

On Saturday, the protesters held a Tiranga Yatra during the 22nd day of their indefinite movement. Forum spokesperson Piyush Singh said students had previously appealed to the government through Gandhian methods, but their demands were not being heard. He said they would move toward the chief minister’s residence and remain there until their demands were met if the government did not act.

The students reiterated demands to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination and order a CBI investigation. They have also sought a full inquiry either by the CBI or by a committee of retired judges from outside Jharkhand. Forum leader Ravindra Paswan accused the JMM and Congress of politicising the issue and urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to withdraw support from the JMM-led coalition if their demands were ignored.