Pune: Tribal Students Continue Manjari Protest After Talks With Minister Fail; 2 Hospitalised
Pune, 26th August 2026: Talks between the Tribal Students Coordination Committee and Maharashtra Tribal Development Minister have failed to resolve the students’ demands, with the government announcing only a stay on its decision regarding the age limit for admission to tribal hostels.
The protesting students rejected the move, demanding implementation of the 2011 decision instead. They warned of intensifying their agitation unless they are given an opportunity to hold direct talks with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and receive a favourable decision. Meanwhile, two students participating in the hunger strike were admitted to hospitals on Tuesday after their health deteriorated.
Tribal hostel students have been on an indefinite hunger strike outside the hostel at Manjari Stud Farm for the past 13 days over around 40 demands. Several rounds of discussions were held with officials, including the Tribal Development Project Commissioner, deputy commissioner and project officers, but failed to yield a solution.
A coordination committee was subsequently formed and held talks with the Tribal Development Minister in Mumbai. Discussions also took place between the minister and tribal MLAs. However, the government announced only a stay on the 2026 government decision concerning the hostel admission age limit.
The students said a stay was not enough and accused the government of delaying action by refusing to withdraw the 2026 government resolution.
“Ministers and government representatives are giving evasive answers to our demands. Instead of cancelling the 2026 government resolution, the government has only stayed it to buy time. Funds meant for us are also not being distributed properly, resulting in injustice to students in tribal residential schools and hostels,” said protesting students.
Several political and social leaders have visited the protest over the past two days, including former judge B G Kolse-Patil, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Sujat Ambedkar, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, former minister Vasant Purke, OBC leader Laxman Hake and Shiv Sena city chief Pramod Nana Bhangire. Vikrant Bhuria also visited the protest following directions from Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
Leaders visiting the protest alleged that the government was deliberately ignoring the students’ demands and attempting to suppress the agitation despite their grievances being legitimate.
Ambedkar warned that his party would join the agitation if the government failed to take appropriate action on the students’ demands.
Meanwhile, Rajaram Padvi was admitted to Sassoon General Hospital after his condition deteriorated, while Rahul Sonawane was taken to a primary health centre in Loni Kalbhor. Several other protesting students are also being examined at the protest site.
