The Maharashtra police resorted to attacking student activists belonging to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad for protesting against the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government demanding a 30 per cent waiver of fees.
According to reports, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena activists staged a protest in Dhule city of Maharashtra in front of Minister Abdul Sattar’s car demanding a 30 per cent waiver of tuition fees. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena activists wanted to meet Minister Abdul Sattar for urging a fee waiver and also present other demands.
However, the Maharashtra police launched an all-out attack against the student activists and also punched them in the face in the presence of the Maharashtra minister, who was seen comfortably sitting inside his car.
In the video, it can be seen how the Maharashtra police were seen manhandling students and punching them straight in the face.
धुळे : विद्यार्थ्यांचं शैक्षणिक शुल्क 30 टक्के माफ करा, या मागणीसाठी अखिल भारतीय विद्यार्थी सेनेच्या कार्यकर्त्यांनी पालकमंत्री अब्दुल सत्तार यांच्या गाडीसमोर रास्ता रोको आंदोलन केलं. यावेळी परिस्थिती नियंत्रणात आणण्यासाठी पोलिसांना लाठीचार्ज कारावा लागला pic.twitter.com/Km5boovyqe
— TV9 Marathi (@TV9Marathi) August 26, 2020
The police even started lathi-charging against protesting students and also arrested 12 to 15 activists from the protest site.
Following the attack on ABVP, the activists have accused the government of failing to meet the demands of the students and also demanded that Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant should resign.
BJP slams Maharashtra govt for attacking students
The attack on students has now created a political storm in the state of Maharashtra as the opposition BJP launched a scathing attack on the Uddhav Thackeray-led government for using violence against protesting students.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly condemned violence by the police officials against ABVP activists. He added that instead of resorting to such manhandling, Minister Abdul Sattar could have discussed issues raised by students and heard their grievances.
We strongly condemn such violence by police against ABVP activists.
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 26, 2020
Instead of resorting to such manhandling,Minister Abdul Sattar could have discussed issues raised by students & heard their grievances.
Strict & strong action is needed against this high handedness.@ABVPVoice https://t.co/lvAC5lA6h1 pic.twitter.com/svLvOoUsP3
The former Chief Minister also demanded strict and strong action against the high handedness of the police officials.
