When Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar-Home Minister Priyank Kharge Met Protesting Students
New Delhi: Several social media users have shared recent images and videos of Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar and state home minister Priyank Kharge sitting in an open area and speaking to young protesters in Bengaluru.
The photographs in question were taken on Tuesday (August 4) when students from College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad protesting against Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA)’s decision to allow BE and B Tech students to apply for the positions of Agriculture Officer (AO) and Assistant Agriculture Officer (AAO) met Shivakumar and Kharge and submitted a memorandum during the inauguration of the Bengaluru India Nano Summit.
"It was regarding the recruitment of Agriculture Officers and Assistant Agriculture Officers in Karnataka, for which the examinations are scheduled to be held on August 8 and 9 this year. Due to certain lacunae in the recruitment process, we met the chief minister, submitted a memorandum, and pointed out the shortcomings," a student told IANS today (August 6), speaking about the meeting.
Several X users, seemingly Congress supporters, have shared the images underlining the contrast with the recent protests in Delhi where the police lathi charged students and even used tear gas and pellet guns.
This is how Congress party give priority to students.
Some students in University of Agricultural Sciences Banglore were having some grievances.
CM DK Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge Ji reached the campus to listen to their issues. Rahul Gandhi Ji has made it… pic.twitter.com/z27VXUgL15
— Shantanu (@shaandelhite) August 4, 2026
Mr @AmitShah
This is the how an Home Minsiter should be!
LEARN FROM THIS BHIMA PUTRA!@PriyankKharge Home Minister, Govt of Karnataka @ Freedom Park, Bengaluru addressing thousands of students from their own stage. pic.twitter.com/dHePiQEsS0
— Adarsh Kumar H N (@adarshkumarhn) August 6, 2026
Thousands of students and farmers have gathered at Freedom Park seeking justice in the AO-AAO recruitment.
Will the government finally talk to them and resolve the clear violation of C&R rules?A truly farmer-friendly government would not ignore them. https://t.co/1AwrNHkS1W pic.twitter.com/bejjGp3Toh
— Lakshetty (@Lakshetty98) August 6, 2026
"Democracy works like this—not through dictatorships—Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge engaging in dialogue with protesting students to jointly resolve the issue. The solution is dialogue—not pellet guns-AK-47, tear gas, shock batons, or police batons," wrote another X user, Mohammad Mojahidul Islam.
Karnataka chief minister D.K. Shivakumar and state home minister Priyank Kharge with the protesting students in Bengaluru on August 4. Photo: X/@DKShivakumar.
Earlier on August 4, chief minister Shivakumar said that the recruitment rules over which the youth were protesting were changed by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state.
"Today, students from the College of Agriculture, UAS Dharwad, met with me and submitted their petition regarding the recruitment rules for agricultural officer positions. It is due to the amendments made to the rules during the previous BJP government's tenure that this problem has arisen today for agricultural degree holders," he wrote on X after meeting the students.
Shivakumar added, "I have listened to the students' lamentations and their words of anxiety about the future. Instructions have been given to the concerned senior officials to resolve this issue legally and positively as soon as possible, without jeopardising the employment opportunities for agricultural degree holders. On this occasion, Home Minister Shri Priyank Kharge and senior officials were present."
Meanwhile, Kharge went to Freedom Park today to address thousands of protesting students. He announced that the government would postpone the AO and AAO exams which were scheduled to be held on August 8 and 9, one of the demands of the students. "Our govt is fully prepared to listen to your four demands," Kharge said.
Journalist Mahesh M. Goudar wrote on X that as Kharge made the announcement, the protesters started celebrating.
"The announcement was met with loud cheers and slogans, with the students describing the decision as a major victory for their long-pending demands. Thanking the state government for responding to their demands, the protesters expressed hope that their remaining concerns, particularly regarding the eligibility criteria for AO & AAO posts, would also be addressed in the coming days," he mentioned.
Protesting Agriculture Students Celebrate as Government Postpones AO & AAO Exams
Protesting https://t.co/rDWosdq7gd. Agriculture students at Freedom Park erupted in celebration after Minister Priyank Kharge announced the postponement of the Agriculture… pic.twitter.com/w6uOiGavz0
— Mahesh M Goudar (@IamMGoudar) August 6, 2026
In parliament, the opposition members have continued sloganeering demanding Union home minister Amit Shah's presence in the House as he has stayed away for over two weeks now, after the police crackdown on protesting youth on July 20 in the national capital.
Even in Jharkhand, the protest against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in various recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) has continued to gather momentum. One of the main demands of the protesters there is the cancellation of the 14th JPSC Combined Preliminary Examination, which was held on April 19.
This article went live on August sixth, two thousand twenty six, at twenty minutes past ten at night.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
