Rohit Pawar warns Pune police of sit-in at Alka Chowk as MPSC students' protest enters eighth day

The agitation by MPSC aspirants in Pune entered its eighth day on Thursday with a fresh turn. MLA Rohit Pawar claimed that vehicles were being diverted towards students sitting in protest near S. M. Joshi bridge. He expressed concern that the students were facing hardship and that the situation could turn serious if a vehicle ran over a student's foot.

Pawar was sharply critical of the police on the issue. He warned them to take the right decision within the next 10 to 15 minutes. After the warning, the students at the protest site also appeared agitated.

Pawar told the police directly, "If the police do not take the right decision in the next 15 minutes, we will have to go and sit at Alka Talkies Chowk." He also said, "Please, diverting vehicles here is causing them hardship. If you want to take photos and videos and use them in court, then we will show our strength."

According to Pawar, traffic had been diverted for the past seven days, but since yesterday vehicles were being sent towards the protest. He said, "If a vehicle runs over the students' feet, it will be difficult."

Pawar then said he would give the police another 10 to 15 minutes. He took the stand that if he and the students went and sat at Alka Chowk, they would not get up from there. Following this, it has emerged that traffic on S. M. Joshi bridge has been stopped. Pawar also warned that the police have issued notices over the protest site, but the students will not back down.

Meanwhile, Pune Police have served notice on the protesting students to vacate the site. The police said the action was being taken so that no problem of public traffic and law and order arises. An appeal was also made from a police van asking the protesters to end the agitation peacefully.

Amid the agitation, the Bombay High Court has also directed that care be taken to ensure ordinary Punekars are not inconvenienced. The court has also directed the government to file an affidavit in the matter.

The MPSC students' agitation has been going on in Pune for the past several days under Pawar's lead. Among the many demands is the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanwar. As the agitation has widened, various political leaders and social activists have been visiting the site and speaking to the students.

There is also discussion of taking the Pune agitation to Mumbai. All eyes are now on what stand the administration and the protesters take in the next few hours.