MPSC protest: Rohit Pawar gives Maha govt 48-hour ultimatum, warns of Pune bandh

The protest by Maharashtra Public Service Commission MPSC aspirants in Pune entered its fifth day on Monday with NCPSP MLA Rohit Pawar issuing a 48hour ultimatum to the Maharashtra government to act on the studentsrsquo demandsPawar demanded the immediate removal of MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar citing allegations of paper leaks and a lack of transparency in the commissionrsquos functioning He warned that failure to address the demands could see more than one lakh students take to the streets of PunePawar warns of Pune bandh march to MantralayaPawar who has been participating in the agitation since its first day said protesters could either enforce a complete Pune bandh or march towards Mantralaya in Mumbai if the government failed to respond within two daysHe also said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was expected to meet the protesting candidates on October 7 or 8 when a large gathering of aspirants could take place in PuneAs appealed by Abhijeet Dipke of CJP the city of Pune could come to a standstill Now the MPSC students and their parents will decide At that time the residents of Pune should support these students Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit on October 7 or 8 We estimate that around 100000 students will be on the streets of Pune that day These students will either call for a Pune Bandh or march straight to the Mantralaya in Mumbai he said We are giving the government a twoday ultimatumPawar said the agitation was rooted in what he described as systemic corruption within the examination body He reiterated his demand for Bhimanwarrsquos resignation and called for a comprehensive audit and overhaul of the commissionrsquos recruitment proceduresNitesh Rane urges dialogueThe standoff also triggered a political exchange between BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane and PawarRane appealed to Pawar not to use the studentsrsquo agitation for political leverage He said the issue concerned the future of lakhs of aspirants and urged political leaders to work together to resolve their concernsRohit Pawar should also adopt a stance of dialogue He fights for the students issues He should protest but he shouldnt hold the students hostageRane further said This is not a political platform it is a question of the students future We sit in the Mantralaya for the welfare of students Rohit Pawar is my friend Tomorrow he might even be a cabinet minister alongside me in the government He is someone who praises good work We will work together for the students He can continue to protest but he shouldnt hold the students hostagePawar rejects ministerial offerPawar rejected Ranersquos remarks saying the minister should instead engage directly with the protesting students and address their demandsInstead of offering me a cabinet berth he should sit down with the students and resolve their issues If he foresees us in government he should show courage and sit in the opposition now we can work together when our government takes over he retortedPawar also maintained that the agitation was not political and said the ruling party should prevent its own legislators from giving the issue a political colourWe completely agree with the sentiment expressed by my friend and Minister Nitesh Rane that the students issue is not a political matter and we have been saying this since the first day of our Satyagraha protest Unfortunately some MLAs from the ruling party itself are trying to give a political turn to this issue It would be better if you reprimanded them against politicising the students demandsHe added BJP leader and Minister Nitesh Rane is my friend but instead of offering me a post he should talk to the students and resolve their issues Now that the atmosphere against the government has intensified he is talking about making me a minister and working together This means they have realised that our government is coming to power Therefore they should show courage and sit in the Opposition and when our government comes to power we will work together But currently Nitesh Rane appears to have lost his way mocked Rohit PawarPawar also renewed his demand for action against the MPSC chairmanMost importantly demand from your government the resignation of MPSC Chairman Bhimanwar who is at the root of all student issues and clean up the corruption within this institution If you do this all the students along with me will certainly express our gratitude to you As for becoming ministers together should we assume you are bidding farewell to the BJP questioned Rohit PawarAbhijeet Dipke calls for intensified agitationDuring the protest CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke also called for an escalation of the agitation and appealed to MPSC aspirants across Pune to participate in large numbersDipke urged students to bring their friends and join the movement saying Call your friends bring everyoneHe claimed that if 20 lakh MPSC students took to the streets for a day the concerned person would resign the following day He also appealed to aspirants from Vidarbha and other parts of Maharashtra to join the protestDipke said his objective was to bring Pune to a standstill and directly convey the studentsrsquo demand for the MPSC chairmanrsquos resignation to the governmentPolitical leaders line up to meet protestersThe agitation has also seen differences emerge among protesters with the movement splitting into three groups over various demands according to the reportSeveral political leaders have visited or are scheduled to meet the protesting aspirants Congress leader Harshwardhan Sapkal and Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut have already met protestersNCPSP president Sharad Pawar has also taken note of the agitation MNS chief Raj Thackeray is scheduled to meet the aspirants later on Monday while Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray is expected to visit them on TuesdayMaratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil is also scheduled to meet the protesting studentsThe developments come as the MPSC aspirants continue their agitation in Pune with the government facing mounting pressure to respond to their demands over the commissionrsquos functioning recruitment process and alleged examination irregularitiesWith inputs from IANS