Tribal students detained in Mumbai while seeking scholarships, basic amenities, alleges Congress

The Maharashtra Congress on Monday alleged that police stopped and detained several tribal students who had travelled to Mumbai to hold a protest at Azad Maidan and seek the resignation of the state’s tribal development minister.

The party said the students had been protesting for over 10 days over issues including scholarships, poor basic facilities at ashram (residential) schools and hostels, as well as other demands that remain unresolved. It alleged that the tribal development minister had failed to address their concerns, following which several students made their way to Mumbai, either by bus or on foot, to demand his resignation.

The Congress said the students were seeking the removal of both the tribal development minister and the commissioner of the department. It also alleged that the students were warned that police cases could be filed against them and claimed that a bus carrying them was taken into custody.

Police intercepted the students at around 3 am, took their photographs and detained them, the party alleged.

The Congress criticised the alleged police action, saying the students had travelled to Mumbai to voice their demands through a peaceful and democratic protest. The party said such alleged intimidation would not stop the students from raising their concerns and assured them of its support in their “fight for their legitimate rights”.

Addressing Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Congress said using police force instead of addressing the students’ grievances seriously amounted to an attempt to suppress democratic values.

“Threatening students and using police force instead of seriously considering their issues amounts to suppressing democratic values,” the party said in a statement.

Separately, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged that police personnel used force and tried to enter Tilak Bhavan, the Congress office where tribal students from Nashik had been staying after walking to Mumbai.

Sapkal claimed that police personnel had been entering the premises since midnight and were intimidating the students while attempting to take them into custody.

He demanded that the alleged entry by police into the office, threats against the students and attempts to detain them by force be stopped immediately.

“It is a serious matter if the police, who are responsible for maintaining law and order, themselves violate the law,” he said.

Sapkal said the Congress would continue to stand with the students and support their legitimate demands, while opposing any attempt to silence them.