India, Oct. 9 -- When Congress leader Vishwajeet Kadam offered to build a house for Vivekanand Patil's parents, the 24-year-old MPSC aspirant did something unusual for someone who had suddenly become the face of an MPSC protest in Pune: he politely said "no".

"I am 24 and still have the strength to build my own life. I do not want to make capital out of my circumstances," Patil told the gathering at the SM Joshi bridge where MPSC protests led by Rohit Pawar entered their ninth day on Thursday. "A house can be built today or tomorrow. Right now, my concern is not my house - it is the future of thousands of students fighting here."

The response made Patil stand out in an agitation that has attracted politicians, student leaders and thousa...