The MPSC protest in Pune entered its tenth day with students refusing to withdraw their agitation over alleged question-paper leaks, repeatedly postponed examinations, delayed recruitment and the financial and academic losses faced by aspirants. Tensions briefly rose at the protest site near the S M Joshi Bridge after police brought a vehicle equipped with a mobile jammer, according to a report by Sakal.
The students are demanding the resignation of Maharashtra Public Service Commission chairperson Vivek Bhimnawar and action to move forward the recruitment process for 70,000 posts. They have been protesting at the S M Joshi Bridge and along Lal Bahadur Shastri Road in Pune. The agitation has continued despite cases reportedly being filed against some students.
The immediate tension followed the reported arrival of the jammer vehicle at the protest site on Friday, the tenth day of the agitation. MLA Rohit Pawar spoke with the students and said that a live broadcast from the location would not be possible. He suggested that the protesters move to Tilak Chowk. A delegation of students then held discussions with the police for about an hour, after which the mobile jammers were switched off, Sakal reported.
The students remained firm on their demand for the commission chairperson’s resignation but indicated that they were willing to discuss their other demands. The issues raised by the protesters concern the functioning of the state recruitment system, including examination scheduling, alleged paper leaks and the long wait for government appointments.
Many of the protesting students come from ordinary and farming families, according to the report. They said they had been preparing for competitive examinations while managing financial difficulties and wanted to build their futures through study rather than confrontation with the government. They warned that the agitation would continue if their demands were ignored.
Support for the protest has come from political representatives and civil society groups. Development Lavande described the agitation as a historic satyagraha and said supporters would not leave the site. Congress city president Deepti Choudhari also backed the students and criticised the reported treatment of protesters, calling for the government to address their demands sensitively.
The students used plates and spoons to stage a form of protest after saying that the government had not taken notice of their ten-day sit-in. The demonstration included the beating of plates and spoons, while Rohit Pawar briefly joined the protesters as songs were played. Members of the transgender community also expressed support for the agitation. Disha Sheikh said the community backed the students’ demand for justice and urged the government to respond positively.
The student delegation’s discussion with police ended with the mobile jammers being switched off. The protesters, however, continued to demand the commission chairperson’s resignation and progress on the proposed recruitment of 70,000 personnel.
