The members of the Maratha Kranti Morcha have called for a statewide bandh on August 9th, 2018, demanding reservation and quota for the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutes.
The call for the protest comes just a day after the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis announced the state government’s decision to meet the demands of Marathas by November 2018.
However, the Maratha Kranti Morcha agitators stated that they shall continue with the protest until they get the aforementioned promise in writing from the CM. Quoting Maratha Kranti Morcha leader Vinod Pokharka, Times Now reported that the Maharashtra government has not only “failed to implement its promises made to the Maratha community before the 2014 Assembly Elections and in the last four years, but also delayed the procedure of withdrawing police complaints filed against the Maratha youth across the state.”
The markets all across Maharashtra are likely to remain shut. Schools in Pune district will also remain shut. Leaders of the Maratha Kranti Morcha will reportedly be holding a sit-in outside the office of the Mumbai suburban collector in Bandra (East) on August 9. No protests would happen in Navi Mumbai following the violence that happened during the Maratha reservation agitation last month.
“It will be a peaceful protest from 11 am to 2 pm with protesters wearing black badges. Then, we will hand over a letter containing our demands to the collector and leave,” said Nanasaheb Kute, convener of the Morcha in Mumbai to the Indian Express.
However, Uday Gavare, MKM’s Latur coordinator in an interview with the Indian Wire said that “the entire Maratha community would be on the roads blocking thoroughfares, from village pathways to national highway.” However, people on their way to the Mumbai airport for their Haj flights will not be stopped.
The Maharashtra high court has appealed to the protesters to not indulge in any kind of violence. The police authorities are all geared up in case a violent situation does occur. According to a report in the New Indian Express, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission is currently conducting a survey to assess socio-economic backwardness of the Maratha community.
Simultaneously, Dalit organisations and Kisan Sabha have called for Bharat bandh on the same day to protest the Supreme Court ruling on the SC/ST Act. To know more about it, click here.
Feature Image Credit: PTI