New Delhi/Mumbai17 minutes ago
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene in the ongoing protest by tribal students in the state and address their concerns over government hostel rules and facilities.
The students have been on a hunger strike for more than 10 days, demanding changes to rules governing admission and stay in government-run hostels.
Gandhi appealed to Fadnavis to meet the protesting students personally and take steps to resolve the issue.
Gandhi raised the matter in a post on X after meeting tribal students during the ‘Students’ Echo’ programme in Pune.
He also shared a memorandum submitted by the students and a letter addressed to the Maharashtra chief minister.
Students raise concerns over 30-year age limit
According to Gandhi, tribal students from different parts of Maharashtra told him that several hostel rules were affecting their education and dignity.
One of the key concerns is a rule that reportedly prevents students above the age of 30 from staying in government hostels.
Gandhi said many tribal students come from remote villages and depend on these hostels to pursue higher education and prepare for competitive examinations in cities.
He urged the Maharashtra government to relax the age limit, arguing that the rule could exclude students who are still completing their education or preparing for examinations after turning 30.
Gandhi flags hostel conditions
Gandhi also raised concerns about the condition of government hostels. He alleged that several facilities lack adequate food, cleanliness and medical services.
He said students had reported injuries and incidents involving snake bites, including deaths. Gandhi further claimed that facilities for female students were particularly poor.
“Students should not have to risk their health to make the government listen,” Gandhi said, urging the state government to take immediate action.
Congress leader questions pregnancy tests
Gandhi also alleged that female students returning to hostels after a prolonged absence are subjected to pregnancy tests and other medical examinations.
Calling the practice humiliating, he said such measures undermine the dignity of students and treat them as guilty without justification.
“I was shocked to learn that female students returning after a long absence are subjected to pregnancy tests and several other medical examinations,” Gandhi said in his letter to Fadnavis.
He described the practice as an attack on the students’ dignity and humanity and called for the rules to be reviewed.
‘Students are demanding their rights’
Gandhi said the protesting students come from remote villages and towns and depend on government support to continue their education.
He said the students were not seeking charity but demanding access to basic facilities and an education environment that respects their rights and dignity.
The Congress leader asked Fadnavis to meet the students and address their demands at the earliest, particularly the age restriction and rules they consider discriminatory or humiliating.
The students’ hunger strike has now entered its second week, putting pressure on the Maharashtra government to respond to their demands.
