Congress claims tribal students heading to Mumbai to protest detained; the action condemns

Maharashtra Congress President, Harshvardhan Sapkal. File | Photo credit: ANI

The Maharashtra Congress claimed that the police stopped and detained several tribal students who had come to Mumbai to stage a protest at the Azad Maidan demanding the resignation of the tribal development minister early on Monday (October 5, 2026).

Also Read: Protest Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar LIVE

The voices of the students could not be silenced by threats, the opposition party said, saying it would stand by the tribal students in the “struggle for their legitimate rights”.

“Threatening students and using police force instead of seriously addressing their issues is tantamount to suppression of democratic values,” the party said in a statement targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

According to the Congress, the tribal students have been protesting for more than 10 days, seeking redressal of their various demands related to scholarships, lack of basic facilities in ashram (residential) schools, hostels, among others. Many came to Mumbai by bus and on foot to demand the resignation of the tribal development minister for not addressing their issues.

The students, who sought the resignation of the tribal development minister and commissioner of the department, were threatened with police cases and the bus carrying them was taken into custody, the Congress alleged.

Mumbai Police stopped the students at around 3 am, photographed them and detained them, charged.

The Congress condemned the alleged action against the students, saying they had come to protest their demands peacefully and democratically.

In a separate statement, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged that the police used force and tried to forcefully enter the party’s Tilak Bhavan office, where tribal students from Nashik were staying after they marched to Mumbai on foot.

Police personnel entered the office from midnight, threatened the students and tried to take them into custody, he claimed.

Mr. Sapkal demanded that the police immediately stop what he described as illegal entry into the office and attempts to threaten and forcefully detain the students.

It is a serious matter if the police, who are responsible for maintaining public order, themselves break the law,” he said.

The Congress will not allow any attempt to suppress the voice of tribal students, Mr. Sapkal said, asserting that the party stands firm in supporting their legitimate demands.

Published – 5 Oct 2026 10:39 IST