Sharad Pawar, president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) or NCP (SP), has came down heavily on the recent police action against Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) exam aspirants. The seasoned leader has asked the Maharashtra government to be more sensitive to the plight of students who sit for competitive civil service examinations.
This was made one day after MPSC aspirants had gone in a delegation to meet Sharad Pawar in Pune, where they registered their frustration regarding recent administrative actions and irregularities in the examination process. The aspirants had also communicated their problems with academic stress, lack of transparency in scheduling, and intemperate delays in declaration of results. Their agitation had previously resulted in police detentions, which had attracted criticism from various political leaders and members of civil society.
Taking to Twitter, Sharad Pawar described the way police handled protesting aspirants as “unbecoming of a state like Maharashtra” and urged redressal at once. “It is the responsibility of the leadership to realize the hurt of students eager to join public service with the vision to become useful to society,” wrote Pawar in his tweet. He emphasized that the state should facilitate such aspirants to grow in a healthy atmosphere.
The sit-in demonstration by MPSC aspirants in Pune was held in protest against some of the long-pending grievances. Foremost among these was the charge of deficiency in transparency in declaring exam results, irregular timing of interviews, and inadequate communication by the MPSC on modifications in the pattern of exams. Some aspirants also complained of the mental strain caused by extended periods of uncertainty and regularly occurring administrative changes.
According to aspirants who attended the meeting with Sharad Pawar, the leader not only assured them of his support but also promised to raise the issue with the concerned authorities. “He listened to us patiently and told us he would take all possible steps to ensure our concerns are addressed in the right forums,” said one aspirant who wished to remain anonymous.
Sharad Pawar has always been positioned as a votary of causes of students and education reforms. His remarks coincide with the present time when the state government is under increasing pressure regarding its attitude towards MPSC-related matters.
Sharad Pawar‘s utterance has brought about a broader debate on how student protesters have been treated and the overall policy towards youth students preparing for competitive exams.
Sharad Pawar‘s critics, however, have raised an eyebrow over the political motive of his support.
Is Sharad Pawar trying to use the turmoil among aspirants to trap the state government in the run-up to elections?
Party insiders have reaffirmed that Pawar’s intervention is in line with his long-term interest in youth and education. “This is not a political prank. Sharad Pawar has always been committed to students’ welfare. He knows how much effort these young people invest in preparing for exams, and his intervention is to prevent them from being treated unjustly,” said a top NCP (SP) leader.
The police response to the protests was also widely condemned by opposition leaders and activists, who blamed the government for stifling legitimate dissent. Students arrested during the protest were subsequently released, but the incident has left a lasting mark on the aspirant community, many of whom remain fearful and frustrated.
Sharad Pawar has now demanded a wide-ranging dialogue among student representatives, the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, and the state education department to avoid such situations in the future. “We need a student-friendly approach, not intimidation,” he said.
With the limelight still on the state’s action, Sharad Pawar‘s intervention has provided further momentum to the increasing clamour for reform and openness in the system of public recruitment. Whether the government takes his advice or not is yet to be seen, but for the aspirants, his statement provides a sense of vindication and hope.
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