NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar (PTI08_04_2026_000342A)
Criticism of Zirwal’s Insensitive Remarks Amid Protests
Ambadas Danve, a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT), has publicly condemned statements made by Zirwal, stating that they undermine the feelings of protesters who have been on hunger strike for over two weeks. Danve urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Sunetra Pawar, the leader of Zirwal’s party, to address these comments and hold Zirwal accountable for his insensitivity.
Tribal development minister Uike and FDA minister Zirwal, belonging to the tribal community, met the protesters after 13 days of their hunger strike outside the hostel for the tribal community at Manjari in Pune on Wednesday.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said, “The students have been on hunger strike for the past two weeks. Minister Zirwal told the students on hunger strike to eat something and then continue with their strike. “I would also eat secretly while observing hunger strikes during my younger days,” he said on Wednesday. Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar said, “The statement shows how much importance the minister gives to the agitation being carried out in a democratic manner.
The ministers did not come prepared to find the solution despite knowing their demands. It shows how serious the govt is about the students from the tribal community. One of the ministers sought two more days to think about their demand, which is another example of the insensitive characteristic of the govt. They held meetings with a delegation of students and those on hunger strike. Yet, the protesters refused to withdraw their agitation and sought the govt’s concrete steps on their demands. The opposition slammed Zirwal over this statement.
Pune: Opposition parties on Thursday said the state govt was insensitive towards the tribal students on hunger strike for two weeks, a day after ministers Ashok Uike and Narhari Zirwal failed to convince them to withdraw the agitation.