Pune, Oct 11 (PTI) The ongoing agitation in Pune for the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar is likely to intensify further, with NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar asking the Maharashtra government to clarify its stand by Sunday evening.
The aspirants have been protesting at S M Joshi Bridge in Pune for the last ten days. The other demands include reforms in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
“The next course of action will be announced on Sunday evening,” Pawar told reporters.
Two days ago, Pune Police registered a case against 15 representatives of the agitation for allegedly organising the protest without permission, obstructing traffic and violating prohibitory orders in the city. Separately, five people were booked for allegedly flying a drone at the protest site.
Following the registration of cases, Pawar visited the Vishrambaug police station and demanded that an FIR be registered against him. The police told him that a decision would be taken after an investigation, he said.
Claiming that nearly 25 lakh students were directly or indirectly affected by the issue, Pawar urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prioritise aspirants’ concerns “over his friendship with MPSC chairman Bhimanwar”.
“Representatives of the protesting students have submitted a draft outlining proposed reforms to cleanse the commission, and the students have endorsed the document,” he said.
Alleging that the government is ignoring the protesters because many of them came from poor families, Pawar said the agitation could take a different turn if students, their family members and other citizens joined in large numbers.
Responding to criticism by BJP leader Gopichand Padalkar, Pawar alleged that students participating in the agitation had been labelled “urban Naxals”, “intellectual Naxals” and people paid to protest.
He accused the ruling establishment of mocking the agitation by describing it as a spectacle, saying such remarks amounted to ridiculing poor students and the children of farmers and agricultural labourers.
Pawar said Fadnavis is responsible for the appointment of the MPSC chairman and had the authority to take a decision on the matter.
He said demonstrators demanded induction of competent officers, like FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, into a proposed committee to reform the commission.
Demanding a comprehensive inquiry into the functioning of the commission, Pawar said everyone, from its watchmen to its chairman, should be investigated.
He also criticised the state government over what he described as a lack of financial assistance for farmers, agricultural labourers and students despite drought conditions in parts of Maharashtra.
“Although the chief minister and the industries minister had cancelled their London visit, officials and close associates of political leaders are travelling to the UK at government expense,” the NCP (SP) MLA added.
Pawar alleged a “growing disconnect” between the government and ordinary citizens, which he said stemmed from the alleged neglect of issues affecting students, farmers, agricultural labourers and women. PTI SPK NSK
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