‘Eat secretly, continue hunger strike’: Maharashtra minister Zirwal’s advice to tribal students draws flak

PUNE: Opposition parties on Thursday accused the Maharashtra government of being insensitive to tribal students who have been on hunger strike for nearly two weeks, after ministers Ashok Uike and Narhari Zirwal failed to persuade them to call off their protest.NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said the government had failed to come prepared with a solution despite being aware of the students’ demands.“The students have been on hunger strike for the past two weeks. The ministers did not come prepared to find a solution despite knowing their demands. It shows how serious the government is about students from the tribal community,” Pawar said.He also criticised the government for seeking more time to consider the protesters’ demands. “One of the ministers sought two more days to think about their demand, which is another example of the insensitive approach of the government,” he said.Tribal Development Minister Uike and FDA Minister Zirwal, both from the tribal community, met the protesters outside the tribal community hostel at Manjari in Pune on Wednesday, the 13th day of the hunger strike.The ministers held discussions with a delegation of students and those observing the hunger strike. However, the protesters refused to withdraw their agitation and sought concrete action from the government on their demands.Zirwal’s remarks during the meeting have also drawn criticism from the Opposition. While urging the students to eat something and continue their protest, he said he had also secretly eaten while observing hunger strikes during his younger days.The remark prompted sharp reactions from Opposition leaders.Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar said the statement reflected the minister’s attitude towards a democratic protest.“The statement shows how much importance the minister gives to the agitation being carried out in a democratic manner. It also shows the insensitive nature of the government,” Wadettiwar said.Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve also criticised Zirwal, saying his remarks had hurt the sentiments of students who had been on hunger strike for more than two weeks.“He has insulted the sentiments of the protesters on hunger strike for over two weeks. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Zirwal’s party chief Sunetra Pawar should take note of his statement and reprimand him for making such insensitive comments,” Danve said.