Pune, 27th August 2026: Minister for Food and Drugs Administration of Maharashtra, Narahari Zirwal advised the tribal students protesting in Manjari to 'eat and drink while protesting,' drawing an immediate response and sharp criticism from the students who have been on hunger strike for the past 14 days.
Zirwal made the remark when he visited the protest site along with Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike after the minister’s meeting with a 15-member delegation of student representatives. Referring to his own experience of participating in agitations, Zirwal said that he used to secretly eat while protesting.
The students hit back, telling him that if they wanted to eat and drink while continuing their protest, they would not have needed to come to the protest site in the first place.
The remark became a talking point at the protest site. Some students said Zirwal’s comment appeared to make light of their hunger strike. The protesters also said that Zirwal had a habit of joking during such situations.
The tribal students have been protesting for 14 days over 14 different demands, but a concrete solution has not yet been reached. The agitation has also raised concerns over the health of the protesters. With the hunger strike continuing for two weeks, the health of some students has reportedly deteriorated.
The students have maintained that they will not withdraw the agitation merely on the basis of verbal assurances. They want a concrete decision on their demands along with a written assurance from the government.
Amid growing efforts to resolve the protest, Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike held a nearly five-hour discussion with a 15-member delegation of student representatives.
The students described the discussion as positive, but maintained that the agitation would continue until their demands were formally accepted in writing.
Uike said that some technical aspects needed to be examined before decisions could be taken on the students’ demands. He sought two days to complete the process and appealed to the students to withdraw their hunger strike.
The students, however, refused to accept the appeal without a written commitment.
After the meeting, Uike and Zirwal visited the protesting students at the site.
Uike said he had held a very positive discussion with the students both as Tribal Development Minister and as a parent. He said he was proud that tribal students were now speaking up for their rights.
“Our boys and girls have started speaking up for their rights, and I am proud of them,” Uike said.
He added that there were no major obstacles to addressing the students’ demands, but certain technical matters needed to be examined before the government could take a final decision. He reiterated that he needed two days to work on the issue.
Despite the government’s positive stance and Uike’s request for two more days, the students have decided to continue their hunger strike.
They have made it clear that they will withdraw the agitation only after the government takes a concrete decision on all 14 demands and provides a written assurance.
For now, the government is working on the technical aspects of the demands, while the students continue their protest at Manjari and await a formal written commitment.