1 hr ago
Congress Calls Maharashtra Government Anti-Tribal Over Police Action
Tribal students travelled to Mumbai to protest about problems they say need to be fixed.
Their concerns include scholarships and basic facilities in residential schools and hostels.
They also sought the resignation of the state’s tribal development minister and a department commissioner.
Congress said police stopped or detained some students and threatened them with cases.
Maharashtra Congress leader Harshvardhan Sapkal also alleged police tried to enter the party office where students were staying.
Congress said the students’ voices should not be silenced.
The report gives Congress’s allegations but does not include a response from the police or the Maharashtra government.
Congress called the BJP-led Maharashtra government “anti-tribal” after alleged police action against tribal students in Mumbai.
The students had travelled from Nashik by bus and on foot to protest and seek the tribal development minister’s resignation.
Their demands reportedly include scholarship issues and basic amenities in residential schools and hostels.
Congress alleged students were threatened with police cases and that a bus carrying them was taken into custody.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged police tried to enter the party’s Tilak Bhavan office and detain students staying there.
- Who
- Tribal students from Nashik, Maharashtra Congress, and police.
- What
- Students came to Mumbai to protest their demands and seek the resignation of the tribal development minister; Congress alleged police stopped, threatened, or attempted to detain them.
- Where
- Mumbai, including the Congress’s Tilak Bhavan office; students had travelled from Nashik.
- When
- Early Monday; the report is dated October 5 but does not specify a year.
- Why
- The students sought redress for demands including scholarships and basic amenities in residential schools and hostels.
Key facts
- Protest location
- Mumbai; Azad Maidan was named as the intended protest site.
- Students’ origin
- Nashik
- Protest duration
- Congress said the students had been protesting for over 10 days.
- Reported demands
- Scholarships, basic amenities in residential schools and hostels, and the resignation of the tribal development minister and department commissioner.
- Congress allegation
- Police threatened students with cases, took a bus carrying them into custody, and attempted to detain students staying at Tilak Bhavan, according to Congress.
- Congress leaders quoted
- Jairam Ramesh and Harshvardhan Sapkal
Quotes
Jairam Ramesh
Congress general secretary in-charge of communications
“Shame on the so-called double engine government in Maharashtra which is clearly Adivasi-virodhi.”
theprint.in
The Congress
The political party commenting on the police action and the students’ protest
“Threatening students and using police force instead of seriously considering their issues amounts to suppressing democratic values.”
theprint.in
Sources
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