Maratha quota stir: Protesters block highway, torch vehicles

AURANGABAD: The Maratha community continued its agitation in several districts across Maharashtra on Tuesday, demanding reservation in government jobs and education.


Agitators on Tuesday manhandled

Shiv Sena MP

Chandrakant Khaire and Congress MLC

Subhash Zambad

at Kaigaon Toka, where the duo was attending the funeral of 28-year-old Kakasaheb Dattatrey Shinde, who plunged to death in Godavari river on Monday while demanding reservation for Maratha community.

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Protesters blocked the Ahmednagar-Aurangabad highway and damaged a dozen vehicles, including a police van and a bus.

In Kolhapur, Maratha organisations began a sit-in agitation at Dasara chowk in Kolhapur in demand for reservation in government jobs and education.

The strike also affected road services in the region. A bus carrying people going to take part in 'Waari' in Pandharpur was stuck at Latur bus stand since Monday night due to the strike.



Supporters of the Maratha Kranti Morcha set a truck ablaze in Aurangabad's Gangapur this morning.



On Monday, the protesters had blocked the Aurangabad-Pune highway, obstructing vehicular movement.

The agitation turned tragic on Monday after a protester, Kakasaheb Shinde, a resident of Kaygaon village jumped to his death in Godavari river. Yogesh Shirke, a protester alleged that the police provoked the youth to take the extreme step.

Following the death of the youth, Maratha Kranti Morcha workers vandalised a bus on the Aurangabad-Pune highway and also blocked the Mumbai-Pune highway.

As a precautionary measure, the police and the district administration decided to suspend Internet services in rural areas since this morning to prevent any fresh protest or unrest.

Meanwhile, Shinde's last rites were performed at Kaygaon village in Gangapur tehsil today, the official said, adding that an uneasy calm prevailed in the area.

The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which led the 'jal samadhi' protest in which Shinde died, is leading the agitation seeking reservations for the community in government jobs and education.

In the last few days, protests have taken place in Buldhana, Akola, Parali, Washim and Mumbai.

The community leaders had earlier taken out several rallies in various districts to highlight their demands. Last year, a huge rally was organised by the Maratha Kranti Morcha in this connection in Mumbai.

Despite assurances from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to fulfil the demands, nothing concrete has been done till now, community leaders have claimed.

(With inputs from PTI)

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