Tension briefly surfaced at the Pune protest by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) candidates on Friday after police brought a mobile jammer vehicle to the demonstration site near the S M Joshi Bridge, according to a report by Sakal – Pune. The protest entered its tenth day as students continued demanding the resignation of MPSC chairperson Vivek Bhimanwar and action on recruitment-related concerns.
The students were told that live streaming from the protest site would not be possible after the jammer vehicle was brought there. MLA Rohit Pawar spoke with the protesters and suggested that they move to Tilak Chowk. A delegation of protesters then held discussions with the police for about an hour. The mobile jammer was switched off after the talks, the report said.
The protest has been organised over allegations of question-paper leaks in MPSC examinations, examinations being repeatedly postponed, delayed recruitment and the educational and financial losses faced by candidates. Students have been demonstrating near the S M Joshi Bridge and along Lal Bahadur Shastri Road in Pune.
The protesters have maintained that they will not withdraw without a decision on their demand for the MPSC chairperson’s resignation. They have also sought progress on the recruitment of 70,000 positions. The students said they were prepared to discuss their demands but would continue the agitation if the issues were not addressed.
The report said some protesters had faced criminal cases, but that this had not changed their decision to continue the demonstration. It described the participants as students from ordinary and farming families who study for competitive examinations while managing financial difficulties. The students said they wanted to prepare for their future rather than engage in a confrontation with the government, but that continued inaction on their demands would keep the protest going.
Supporters from political and social groups also joined the demonstration. Development Lavande called the protest a historic satyagraha and said supporters would not leave the site. Pune Congress city president Deepti Chaudhari criticised the reported treatment of the students and called for the government to address their demands sensitively. She also said the Chief Minister should accept responsibility for the students’ future.
On the tenth day, students used plates and spoons to create a loud demonstration after saying that the government had not taken notice of their protest. MLA Rohit Pawar also briefly joined the participants as they performed to protest songs. Members of the transgender community expressed support for the agitation, with Disha Sheikh calling on the government to take a positive position on the students’ demands.
The immediate issue at the site was resolved after the mobile jammer was turned off, but the students’ central demands remained unresolved in the report. The protest is expected to continue at the identified locations unless discussions with the authorities produce a decision on the resignation demand and the recruitment process.
