‘We Won’t Eat Until We Get Written Order’: Pune Tribal Students’ Hunger Strike Enters Day 15; Narhari Zirwal’s Remark Sparks Anger

The hunger strike by tribal students in Pune's Manjari area has persisted for 15 days, with some students reporting a decline in their health. Despite a five-hour meeting with Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike, the students remain adamant about their protest until they receive a written order approving their demands. Tensions at the protest site escalated after Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Narhari Zirwal allegedly suggested that the students could continue their protest while eating and drinking.

This remark infuriated the students, who confronted Zirwal at the protest site, stating that their struggle is a matter of health and life, not a joke. Uike acknowledged the legitimacy of the students' demands, stating that the government lacks only a few administrative and technical requirements to address them, but he requested the students to give them two days to finalize these matters.

However, the students refused to back down, insisting on a written decision from the government before they would end their hunger strike. The situation has put pressure on the Tribal Development Department to find a resolution, with the students maintaining their demand for a written government resolution on their pending issues until their protest concludes.