Multiple Protests and Government Responses Emerge Across Indian States

The Maharashtra government has accepted all demands of tribal students who had been on a hunger strike for 17 days at hostels in Pune, Nagpur, and Nashik. Tribal Development Minister Ashok Uike stated that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the demands positively, including the scrapping of an age limit norm for hostel admissions. A review meeting is scheduled in three months to monitor implementation.

In Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced that 101 taluks have been declared drought affected, with the possibility of adding more after a 15 day review. He noted that a memorandum will be submitted to the Centre for relief funds, mentioning a request for 1,200 crore rupees from the State Disaster Response Fund. Meanwhile, members of Samyukta Horata Karnataka held a protest in Kalaburagi demanding that all taluks in the district be included in the drought hit list. The protest turned tense when police detained leaders and prevented an agitator from attempting self immolation. The protesters demanded a 1,000 crore rupee special package and the resignation of three local ministers.

Other regional tensions include a protest march in Hosanagara, where hundreds of farmers opposed a draft notification declaring over 20,668 square kilometers of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area. Leaders urged the state government to conduct a physical survey to exclude human habitats from the notification. Additionally, residents and farmers around Kolleru Lake have formed the Voice of Kolleru. This welfare society aims to protect local rights and oppose the inclusion of the entire 161,000 acre area under wetland regulations following a Supreme Court directive for boundary demarcation.