Sharad Pawar Urges Maharashtra Govt to Dialogue with MPSC Students
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar calls on the Maharashtra government to engage in dialogue with MPSC aspirants protesting over exam irregularities.
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has called upon the Maharashtra government to initiate immediate discussions with protesting Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants to resolve their growing grievances. Speaking on the intensifying unrest, Pawar emphasized that the state government and educational bodies must take the students' concerns seriously to prevent further escalation.
Rising Unrest Across the State
The agitation, which has seen significant activity in Pune, is not isolated to a single city. According to Pawar, there is a growing sense of dissatisfaction among students in Mumbai and several other parts of the state. He noted that the current situation requires urgent attention from the authorities to find a sustainable solution.
“Students have certain demands and have started an agitation in Pune. Keeping this in mind, the state government and educational institutions need to take note of the situation and take steps to find a solution,” Pawar stated.
Core Demands of the Aspirants
The MPSC aspirants have been protesting vigorously, driven by serious allegations regarding the integrity of the recruitment process. The primary issues fueling the agitation include:
- Examination Irregularities: Allegations of paper leaks and lack of transparency in the testing process.
- Recruitment Delays: Significant setbacks in filling vacant government positions.
- Leadership Accountability: Demands for the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar.
- Procedural Changes: Calls for the continuation of offline examinations and more transparent recruitment cycles.
While a delegation of students met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on September 30—leading to assurances of a judicial inquiry and measures to accelerate recruitment—a section of the student community has resumed protests in Pune, indicating that the previous assurances have not fully quelled the anger.
Pawar's Appeal to the Chief Minister
Pawar revealed that he has already reached out to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the crisis. Although the Chief Minister was not in Mumbai at the time of the call, Pawar has requested him to prioritize the issue upon his return.
“I have requested him to look into the issue after he returns and interact with the students. If necessary, he should meet them and hold a meeting. Problems can be resolved through dialogue,” Pawar said, adding that it is the "moral responsibility" of the government to ensure justice for the student community.
Tensions Over Electoral Roll Revisions
Beyond the MPSC crisis, Pawar also addressed the ongoing protests in Mumbai concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This protest, led by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, targets Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The demonstrators are demanding the resignation of the CEC, citing concerns over how the Election Commission is managing the voter-roll revision. Pawar noted that these concerns are being echoed in Nagpur and other regions across Maharashtra. He suggested that political parties should unite to address these electoral concerns and hold those responsible for any wrongdoing accountable.
“When all political parties come together to find a solution to this issue and make a decision regarding those who have committed wrongdoing, we will stand with them and extend our support,” Pawar concluded.