Mumbai | The Maratha Reservation protest which created headlines across the nation for its peaceful protest has suddenly taken a violent turn in the state of Maharashtra. Violence has been witnessed across various parts of the state along with state capital Mumbai as the group has called for a day-long strike on Wednesday. The community is demanding reservation in government jobs and education.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha the spearhead of the reservation protest on Wednesday called for a day strike in the state of Maharashtra. A fellow group of Sakal Maratha Samaj has also called for a band in Navi Mumbai and Panvel. The protestors have blocked the Eastern express highway which connects the city of Mumbai with its central suburbs. Many shops in various parts of Navi Mumbai are been closed as stones were thrown at two buses.
A Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) bus was vandalised in the Wagle Estate area of Thane by protestors from Maratha outfits. At some places in Mumbai, protesters raised slogans against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patil for allegedly insulting sentiments of the Maratha community. Earlier in the day, the protesters had stopped trains on the Western Line at Jogeshwari. They were soon removed from the tracks.
Education Minister Vinod Tawde clarified that After reviewing the situation, the decision on school and colleges being closed or not will be taken by the local police and district administration.
DCP Deepak Deoraj, PRO, Mumbai Police, said that all the necessary deployments have been made in Mumbai. He said, ” The situation should be brought under control at the earliest. The CM should invite prominent representatives from the community participating in the protest for talks and start the process of resolving the stand-off. There was never any law and order issue.
Earlier on Tuesday, one Constable died while 9 other police personnel were injured during the clash between police and protestors. Several vehicles were put on fire in the Aurangabad and the neighbouring cities in Maharashtra. The agitation took a violent turn after Kakasaheb Shinde a 27-year-old jumped off a bridge over Godavari river in Aurangabad.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha in a statement said that essential services like water supply, fire brigade, ambulance services, hospitals, school and colleges, school buses are exempted from the bandh.
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