Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

The state of Maharashtra is facing a political crisis for the reservation in government jobs and education. The protest has turned into a violent one recently with several protests being organised on roads and highways blocking traffic and torching vehicles.

A pro-reservation Maratha leader said they have called the bandh across the state and that they would continue their agitation until Devendra Fadnavis apologises to the community.

The community had taken out 58 mammoth protest marches in several towns across the state in the two years to push for their demands, including reservation. Since the state government has not adequately responded, the agitation is being revived by the leaders of the community.

Quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community constitutes around 30 percent of the state’s population, has been a hugely contentious issue and now the reservation issue has sparked several protests. 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.

The Maratha Kranti Morcha has called for a State-wide bandh today after a young protester committed suicide in Aurangabad district on Monday. The morcha is leading protests in several parts of the State over the Maratha reservation issue.

Protesters clashed with police in Aurangabad today and torched two fire brigade vehicles. At least one policeman was injured in the clashes.

Local news agencies report that police head constable Kadgavkar from the Usmanabad main branch died in the stampede that resulted from the fire/burning on the Kaigaon bridge.

The crises have especially escalated over the suicide. The incident came a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was canceling his visit, scheduled today, to a temple in Pandharpur after protesting Maratha outfits threatened to disrupt the event.

Shinde’s death triggered a fresh set of protests in several parts of Maharashtra, with opposition leaders seeking to put the blame on the BJP-led government in the state.

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