Pune: The BARTI Research Students' Action Committee has decided to suspend its 12-day hunger strike following an invitation from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's office for a meeting.

The protest, led by research students at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), had been ongoing for the past 12 days.

The protest was initiated with demands that BARTI provide 100% of the UGC-mandated fellowship from the date of admission and that the government resolutions dated October 30, 2023, and July 25, 2024, should not be imposed on the scheduled caste students at BARTI.

During the protest, 763 students opposed the 50% fellowship announced by BARTI and collectively boycotted the document verification process. Some students even attempted self-immolation.

The protest also included locking up the BARTI office, with participation from student organizations, social organizations, and political parties in the city.

During the protest, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde communicated with the protest leaders through a phone call from the Director General of BARTI, listening to and understanding their demands.

Earlier, a delegation had also discussed the issues via video conference with Vijay Waghmare, the Principal Secretary of the Social Justice Department.

The discussion was positive, and the Chief Minister has called for a decisive meeting on August 23. Given the significance of this upcoming meeting, student leaders Harshvardhan Davne, Pallavi Gaikwad, along with Swapnil Narbag, Prakash Dipke,

Prof. Satish Wagare, Samvidhan Dugane, Samindar Ghokshe, Pradeep Mahendkar, Rahul Chavan, Manohar Sonkamble, Jayvardhan Gachche, Anupam Sonale, Maroti Barme, Sonali Khobragade, Pragya Uke, Balasaheb Rohanekar, Ankit Raut, Sachin Pawale, and Amar Bhoge have decided to withdraw the protest.