Pune student protest enters fifth day as political leaders rally behind them
The protest by students preparing for the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examinations entered its fifth day on Monday, with no sign of an end. Several opposition leaders are expected to visit the protest site near S.M. Joshi Hall today and express their support for the students.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray is expected to reach Pune at about 7 p.m. and address the protesting students. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Amol Kolhe and leaders from other opposition parties are also expected to join the gathering.
The students are demanding the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar. NCP MLA Rohit Pawar has been leading the agitation and has remained at the protest site for the past five days, including through the nights.
Both Pawar and the students have said that they will not leave the protest until Bhimanwar resigns. Between 2,000 and 3,000 aspirants have been attending the agitation each day.
Leaders from several parties, including some members of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, have visited the site during the past three days.
The protest also saw a dispute on Sunday when Omraje Nimbalkar, the Dharashiv MP, visited the site to support the students. Nimbalkar was elected on a Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) ticket but later changed political sides.
When he began to speak, some students questioned him about his decision to switch parties. His speech was interrupted several times despite his attempts to answer them.
Nimbalkar expressed his displeasure and referred to the party's defeat in local body elections when it was out of power. The students continued to question him, and he eventually kept his remarks brief.
Later, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut criticised Nimbalkar. Raut said, “Shinde might be able to give you money, but he can never give you respect.”
Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also visited Pune on Sunday evening and extended his support to the MPSC aspirants.
Wadettiwar criticised ruling party leaders who had called the protesting students “Urban Naxals”. He said, “Look at whose friend Bhimanwar is, and you will understand why he is not being made to resign.”
Congress MLC Satej Patil, NCP MP Amar Kale, MP Nilesh Lanke and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut were among those who visited the protest site.
Speaking to the students, Raut said, “Gyanesh Kumar steals votes, and MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar steals the students' talent and marks; both must resign.”
The protest has also brought another dispute among MPSC aspirants into view.
About three years ago, the MPSC moved from the multiple-choice question (MCQ) system to a descriptive examination pattern. Supporters of the descriptive system say it gives greater weight to a candidate's understanding and ability to analyse a subject. The pattern is also used by students preparing for the Union Public Service Commission examinations.
A separate group of students, however, has been demanding a return to the old MCQ system. Minister Nitesh Rane and MLA Gopichand Padalkar have visited that protest and expressed their support.
The development has caused disagreement among the aspirants. Students preparing under the descriptive system have opposed any return to the MCQ pattern and have begun another protest of their own.
The result is a divided student movement, with different groups pressing different demands even as the main agitation continues outside S.M. Joshi Hall.
For the present, however, the principal demand of the larger protest remains unchanged: the students and Rohit Pawar want MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar to resign.- Ends
