MUMBAI: CJP national convener Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday said he was heading to Pune to support the ongoing movement by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants, as students continued to protest over demands related to examination transparency and administrative reforms.“I am heading out to support the MPSC students’ movement in Pune,” Dipke said in a post on X.He said more than 20 lakh young people in Maharashtra were preparing for MPSC examinations and stressed that they were also voters.“These are not just students; they are voters too,” Dipke said, adding that if the government did not listen to their concerns, the youth would respond through their votes.In another post on X, Dipke said Mumbai was “out on the streets again” in support of free and fair elections and expressed solidarity with the protesters.“Solidarity with all the protestors. All Indians need to come together. It’s now or never!” he said.Dipke also took a swipe at the difference in how protests were being handled in Mumbai and Delhi, saying, “Don’t ask how protests are being allowed in Mumbai. There’s big cultural difference between MH Police & Delhi Police.”Meanwhile, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday urged the Maharashtra government to immediately engage in dialogue with protesting MPSC aspirants to address their grievances over examination transparency and administrative reforms.Speaking to news agency PTI, Pawar said there was unease among students in Pune and Mumbai and stressed that meaningful communication between the state leadership and student bodies was necessary to resolve the deadlock.MPSC aspirants have been protesting over demands including the removal of the MPSC chairman and greater transparency in the conduct of examinations.The Maharashtra Public Service Commission had postponed the State Services Main Examination 2026, which was scheduled to begin on October 3.The commission had earlier said that a high-level committee reviewing the existing examination systems had held extensive discussions with candidates and other stakeholders and studied best practices.The committee was tasked with reviewing the examination system amid concerns raised by aspirants and examining possible reforms.(With agency inputs)
