Maratha quota stir: Fresh protests against govt in Mumbai today

August 01, 2018 08:45

Maratha community members will hold a protest in Mumbai on Wednesday against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government's 'failure' to withdraw criminal cases against the protesters.

Maratha community members will hold a jail bharo protest in Mumbai, Sakal Maratha Morcha leader Praveen Patil said.

"The state government, despite its assurance of withdrawing criminal charges of vandalism and damaging public property against some protesters, has not taken any action and that is why we are holding the protest Mumbai tomorrow," Patil said.

He also sought an apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil and BJP MLA Ram Kadam for 'defaming' Maratha quota agitation and its leaders.

The politically influential Maratha community, constituting around 30 per cent of the state's population, has been agitating to press its demand for reservation in jobs and education.

The community had earlier taken out silent marches across the state to highlight their demands, prominently for reservation.

However, their latest round of agitation has taken a violent turn.

Protesters indulged in violence and arson at separate places in Maharashtra on Monday.

Four police officials were injured in stone pelting, and around 70 vehicles, including state-run buses and police vans, were damaged or torched during the violence in Chakan near Pune on Monday.

Amid the continuing agitation, the opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party had approached state Governor Vidyasagar Rao, requesting him to direct the Devendra Fadnavis government to announce a decision on the reservation issue immediately.

Maratha outfits have announced that a mega rally will be held in Mumbai on August 9 in support of their quota demand. -- PTI

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