Maratha protests for quota turn violent; vehicles damaged, bus set on fire

MUMBAI: Protests by the Maratha community which is demanding reservation in educational institutions and government jobs in Maharashtra turned violent with several vehicles being attacked and a state transport bus being set on fire in Solapur district on Saturday.

Maratha community members block a road in Solapur. PTI

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, July 22

Protests by the Maratha community which is demanding reservation in educational institutions and government jobs in Maharashtra turned violent with several vehicles being attacked and a state transport bus being set on fire in Solapur district on Saturday.

According to state police, protesters set a Maharashtra state trassnport bus on fire at Uttar Solapur tehsil in the district as part of a rasta roko. Several buses were also stoned and traffic stopped in Aurangabad district as well, police added.

Leaders of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, which has called the protests, say they newer leaders who have taken control of the organisation are more aggressive than their predecessors who organised 58 silent marches across Maharashtra in 2016. “The protests this time are being led by a newer set of youths who feel cheated by the government because of unfulfilled promises made last time,” Virendra Pawar, a community leader who was part of the protests last time said.

Protesting youths of the Maratha community said they would not allow Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta to enter Solapur district on Monday. As per tradition, the Chief Minister kicks off the puja at the temple of Lord Vithal at the temple town of Pandharpur on the occasion of Ashadi Ekadashi which falls on Monday this year.

Members of the MKM said they are looking for a concrete assurance from Fadnavis on reservation for the community before the Fadnavis couple are allowed entry into Pandharpur.

Police said security has been tightened in the temple town as the first puja on Ashadi Ekadeshi featuring the Chief Minister is an important event for members of the powerful Warkari sect. Officials feel that the situation could result in violence between the two groups though a large number of Marathas follow the Warkari tradition.

Meanwhile, reports of rasta roko being organised on Sunday at Marathwada, Parbhani and Hingoli districts are also coming in. Police, however, said that the situation was under control though a few vehicles have been stoned over the weekend.