Protesting Maharashtra MLAs Jump from Mantralaya in Dramatic Demonstration

In a dramatic turn of events on October 4, 2024, several tribal Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Maharashtra, including Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, leaped from the third floor of the Mantralaya building in Mumbai onto safety nets. This protest was staged to attract attention to their grievances regarding the stalled hiring of tribal students for state-level jobs under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act, 1996.

The incident involved violence of protest methods by key members of the ruling MahaYuti alliance. Others who joined Mr. Zirwal in this demonstration included Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Hemant Savra and MLAs Kiran Lahamate, Hiraman Khoskar, and Rajesh Patil.

MLA Kiran Lahamate expressed frustration over the state government’s inaction, stating, “We tried to make several attempts to discuss the matters with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde about students, but it was avoided or delayed.” The protest aimed to highlight the ongoing issues faced by tribal students, who have been denied appointments despite being eligible for recruitment in 17 different categories under the PESA Act since October 2023.

Following the protest, a meeting was held with Chief Minister Shinde, which resulted in a tentative agreement to offer contractual hiring to the affected students. “In case, the court does not rule in favor of the tribals, we will keep renewing the contracts,” noted Mr. Lahamate while speaking to The Hindu.

The protest also coincided with demands to stop the inclusion of the Dhangar community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. Deputy Speaker Zirwal had previously communicated this concern to the Chief Minister, warning against any unconstitutional decisions that might affect the tribals’ reserved rights.

The opposition stepped in to criticize the state government. Leader of the Opposition, Vijay Wadettiwar, accused the Eknath Shinde-led administration of prioritizing opportunistic projects over tribal rights. He asserted, “The government is unable to give justice to their party MLAs, so it is clear what kind of justice the public might have received in the last two and a half years.”

The safety nets at Mantralaya have been in place since 2018, following multiple incidents of individuals attempting to jump from higher floors. The use of these nets underscored the severity and desperation surrounding this protest, as tribal MLAs continue their campaign for justice in employment matters.