Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Pune Tribal Students Hunger Strike Enters Day 15 Amid Dispute
Tribal students in Pune have been refusing food to press the government to address their demands.
Their protest has now lasted 15 days.
Several students say their health is getting worse.
Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike met 15 student representatives for about five hours.
He said the demands were legitimate and asked them to wait two more days.
The students said they would not stop based only on spoken promises.
They want a written government order.
Anger grew after Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal suggested that protests could continue while people ate and drank.
The students said their struggle was serious and involved their health and lives.
Tribal students protesting in Pune’s Manjari area have continued their hunger strike into its 15th day.
Students rejected Minister Ashok Uike’s request to pause the protest for two days while administrative issues are addressed.
They say they will not stop until the government issues a written order accepting and explaining decisions on their demands.
Several students have reported deteriorating health after 14 days without food.
Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal’s remarks about protesting while eating and drinking angered students at the protest site.
- Who
- Tribal students, Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike, and Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal.
- What
- Students are continuing a hunger strike and demanding a written government decision on their pending demands.
- When
- The protest entered its 15th day on Thursday, after 14 days without food.
- Where
- Manjari area of Pune, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The students want their demands concerning tribal students to be formally accepted and addressed in writing.
Students’ Position
Government’s Position
Written assurance versus additional time
Students’ Position
Students rejected verbal assurances and said they would continue the hunger strike until they received a written government decision.
Government’s Position
Ashok Uike said the demands were legitimate but asked students to give the administration two days to complete administrative and technical requirements.
Whether to suspend the hunger strike
Students’ Position
Students refused to pause the protest during the requested two-day period.
Government’s Position
Uike appealed to the students to suspend their hunger strike while the government worked on the issues.
Remarks at the protest site
Students’ Position
Students said Narhari Zirwal’s suggestion that they protest while eating and drinking trivialized a struggle affecting their health and lives.
Government’s Position
Zirwal referred to his own protest experience and said that protesters in the past sometimes ate secretly while on hunger strike.
- Protest duration
- The hunger strike entered its 15th day on Thursday.
- Location
- Manjari area, Pune.
- Student representatives at meeting
- 15 representatives met Ashok Uike.
- Meeting duration
- Approximately five hours.
- Government request
- Ashok Uike asked students to allow two days for administrative and technical requirements.
- Student demand
- A written government order accepting their demands and explaining the decisions taken.
- Health concerns
- Several students reported deteriorating health after 14 days without food.