Sadavarte tells parties not to claim ownership of protesting MPSC students in Pune

The agitation by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) students in Pune has been going on for 12 days, heating up the state's political climate. Leaders of various parties have visited the protest site to express support for the students. Lawyer Gunaratna Sadavarte has now spoken on the matter.

The students are sitting on a dharna on S M Joshi Marg under the leadership of MLA Rohit Pawar. They are insisting on the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar. Sadavarte spoke to the media on the issue.

Sadavarte said he shared the students' feelings about the examination. According to him, people's faith in the examination must be preserved. "Students are not cattle that they will follow anyone," he said. He added that no political party or leader should claim ownership of the students sitting in protest.

Sadavarte also said that only those who know how the commission works should speak on it. He criticised some people, saying they did not know the facts of the matter but were speaking nonetheless.

Sadavarte's stand was that the real question should be discussed instead of political blame games. Warning directly, he said, "Do not claim ownership of Maharashtra's MPSC students. Do not play your inauspicious politics." He also claimed that a delegation of students had met the Chief Minister, talks had taken place and agreement had been reached on some issues.

Sadavarte appealed to the protesting students to focus on preparing for the examination and on their goals ahead. "We have not come here to eat, we have come to become officers," he said.

He also raised some questions. Who exactly is responsible for ensuring the examination is held on time? How much authority does the government have in the process? And why is the commission's way of working not discussed?

According to Sadavarte, more important than the demand to remove people from the commission is a discussion of issues such as the commission's examination system, its manner of functioning and students' trust in the examination.