Raj Thackeray joins MPSC aspirants' protest in Pune, tells them 70,000-post recruitment will not happen

MNS president Raj Thackeray on Monday visited the protest by MPSC students in Pune, spoke to them and guided them. The agitation is being led by MLA Rohit Pawar.

A large number of students are said to have joined the protest, a claim that is being made. Several political leaders also reached the spot. The protesting students say they will not step back until their demands are met.

Thackeray said the students' questions should be resolved by whatever route they can be resolved. According to him, if he has to fall at anyone's feet to get jobs for Maharashtra's Marathi youth, he is ready to do so. He also asked the students not to live under misconceptions or false dreams.

He told the students: "I have seen your demands and read the issue of recruitment to 70,000 posts. This recruitment will not happen. Remember this right now." He said Rohit Pawar was sitting there and that it could not happen even if another government came to power. He asked the students to understand the circumstances and the ground reality, but also said jobs must be provided. Thackeray said he has been saying for the last 25 years that the state's youth should get the jobs.

Referring to reservation, Thackeray said: "We ask for reservation, but where are the government jobs for it?" He said everything that is going on is turning private, and there is no reservation in the private sector. He said this is happening because of government policies.

Thackeray further said students are not thought about at all and are taken for granted. In his words, when elections come, they distribute money, give liquor to people and get elected. He said that until students remove this misconception of these people, they will never get justice in life.

He said things will not change until students apply pressure and MPs and MLAs fear that they cannot function without listening to the students. According to Thackeray, once that fear sets in, "see how they come straight onto the right path".