Journalist Assaulted in Pune MPSC Protest; Media Boycotts Agitation
A journalist was allegedly attacked during an MPSC aspirants' protest in Pune, leading to a media boycott and political firestorm involving Rohit Pawar.
A tense atmosphere gripped Shastri Road in Pune on Thursday as an ongoing protest by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants turned violent. A journalist was allegedly assaulted while attempting to cover the demonstration, prompting a sudden and collective boycott by media personnel present at the scene.
The Altercation on Shastri Road
The protest, which saw a massive turnout of students demanding various reforms and addressing grievances related to the MPSC, took a dark turn when tensions flared between demonstrators and the press. According to eyewitnesses and journalists on the ground, a group of students began questioning the presence of the media.
The confrontation reportedly escalated when students allegedly demanded that the press leave the area, asking, "Who called you here? Leave from here." The verbal exchange quickly deteriorated into abuse, culminating in the alleged physical assault of journalist Nikhil Shukre.
The situation became so volatile that local police had to intervene to prevent further chaos. Reports indicate that law enforcement moved in to manage the crowd and reportedly escorted an individual involved in the altercation away from the protest site.
Journalists Stand in Solidarity
In a swift show of unity, the journalists covering the event decided to abandon their posts. The decision to boycott the agitation was made to protest the misbehaviour and the physical attack on their colleague.
Yogesh Borse, Vice President of the Pune Union of Working Journalists, issued a stern condemnation of the act. He stated that the union is demanding immediate and strict legal action against the perpetrators.
"The union strongly condemns the incident and demands strict action against the assaulter. Following the assault on journalist Nikhil Sukre, local journalists have unanimously decided not to cover the protest until an FIR is registered against the students involved in the assault," Borse said.
Political Firestorm: BJP Targets Rohit Pawar
The incident has also ignited a fierce political battle. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar was present at the protest site during the commotion, a fact that has drawn heavy criticism from the opposition.
BJP State Spokesperson Navnath Ban launched a scathing attack on the NCP leader, alleging that the violence was carried out by supporters linked to him. Ban accused Pawar of attempting to deflect blame onto the ABVP to hide the actions of his own workers.
"During the MPSC protest, NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar’s goons assaulted journalists, a deeply concerning attack on the fourth pillar of democracy," Ban stated. He further demanded that Rohit Pawar issue an unconditional apology to the press and called upon the Pune police to make immediate arrests.
The MPSC aspirants have been holding various demonstrations in Pune for some time, seeking transparency and action regarding alleged irregularities in the commission's examination processes. This latest incident has added a layer of legal and political complexity to their ongoing struggle.