Maratha protests turn violent

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 set on fire in Solapur district on Saturday.

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

Leaders of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), which has called the protests, say the new leaders who have taken control of the organisation are more aggresive than their predecessors who organised 58 silent marches 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 (July 23) 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 is allowed entry into Pandharpur.

The police said security has been tightened in the temple town as the first puja on ‘Ashadi Ekadashi’ featuring the CM is an important event for members of the powerful Warkari sect. Officials feel the situation could result in violence between the two groups though a large number of Marathas follow the Warkari tradition.

Meanwhile, there were reports of ‘rasta roko’ being organised at Marathwada, Parbhani and Hingoli districts on Sunday. The police, however, said the situation was under control.

Fadnavis cancels visit to Pandharpur temple

• Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said he has cancelled his visit to a temple in Pandharpur town for a key religious event on Monday in view of the proposed protest seeking reservation for Maratha community in government jobs
• Explaining the reason for calling off his visit, Fadnavis said he feared for the lives of nearly 10 lakh people expected to be at the temple town in Solapur district on Monday on the occasion of ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’
• Some Maratha community leaders have threatened to disrupt the religious event if their demands, including reservation in government jobs and education, are not accepted by the government