13 days on, Pune tribal students' protest persists as one hospitalised
The protest by tribal students in Pune entered its 13th day on Tuesday, with opposition leaders accusing the Maharashtra government of ignoring their demands even as the health of one of the six students on hunger strike deteriorated and he was hospitalised.
Several other students continued their sit-in at the Adivasi Government Boys' Hostel in Manjari.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar and Sujat Ambedkar, son of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar, visited the protest site and extended their support to the students.
A day earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to address the grievances of the protesting students. In a letter to Fadnavis, Gandhi appealed to him to meet the students personally and resolve their issues, including their demand for relaxation of the 30-year age limit for staying in government hostels.
NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule also spoke to the students over the phone on Tuesday and assured them that the issues would be discussed with the government.
The students are demanding withdrawal of the Maharashtra government's Government Resolution (GR) on tribal hostels and issuance of a revised order.
On Sunday, the protesters held a rally seeking a safe and well-equipped central hostel building for female students in Pune and immediate filling of vacant posts in hostels.
They are also demanding deployment of security guards and sanitation workers at hostel premises.
(With inputs from PTI)
