Maratha quota agitation intensifies as protesters set trucks on fire
Even as an amalgam of Maratha groups have called for a Maharashtra bandh today to protest against the death of a protestor who ended his life on Monday by jumping in to the Godavari river, there were reports of at least two more protestors from the Maratha community allegedly tried to end their life demanding reservations for their community. The Maharashtra bandh has been by and large peaceful with stray incidents of vehicles burnt and vandalized.
Jagganath Sonavane a 60-year-old from Aurangabad allegedly tried to kill himself by consuming poison on Tuesday morning. He has been rushed to hospital where his condition is said to be serious. Another youth one Gundu Sonavane also tried to end his life this time by jumping in to the river, he also has been rushed to the hospital where his conditions is said to be serious.
Maratha community leaders who were leading peaceful protests of their youths since the last two years said that it is no longer easy to control their youths as the state government has not kept its promises on quota. Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire felt a taste of it when he went to attend the funeral of Kakasaheb Shinde in Aurangabad was heckled, pushed around and abused by the Maratha protestors. Khaire was rescued by his security and other sainiks who pushed him the vehicle there was even an attempt to stone his vehicle.
In Aurangabad there are reports of protestors burning a Fire brigade vehicle after stopping it, the police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd; there was another attempt to burn a State Transport bus that was going from Nashik to Sangamner. The State Transport authorities have decided to stop the bus service between Nashik and Aurangabad after the incident. There were reports of stone throwing in Osmanabad which led to suspension of ST buses.
All schools in Marathwada known for being caste riots have been given holidays as a precautionary measure. Schools were shut in Nanded too. In Parbhani protestors stopped at least four trains. Jalna too was completely shut and in Shirdi protestors stopped the Manmad- Ahmednagar road.
Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil who himself hails from the Maratha community on Tuesday appealed to the Maratha community to not resort to violence saying the situation was not in their hands. “The situation is not in our hands but it is with the courts, this cannot be resolved by agitating, If you believe that you can get reservation by stone vehicles of Ministers then do break it. Today lakhs of devotees of Lord Vithal are stuck due to the bandh. Even if we give 10 crores is Kakasaheb Shinde (youth who died yesterday) going to come back.”said Patil while speaking to reporters.
The Minister claimed that certain people were inciting the protests. “ Certain paid people have infiltrated these protests, they are trying to give a bad name to this movement. These will increaseduring the elections however the protestors should remain alert and remove them from the movement.”said Patil.
Jagganath Sonavane a 60-year-old from Aurangabad allegedly tried to kill himself by consuming poison on Tuesday morning. He has been rushed to hospital where his condition is said to be serious. Another youth one Gundu Sonavane also tried to end his life this time by jumping in to the river, he also has been rushed to the hospital where his conditions is said to be serious.
Maratha community leaders who were leading peaceful protests of their youths since the last two years said that it is no longer easy to control their youths as the state government has not kept its promises on quota. Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire felt a taste of it when he went to attend the funeral of Kakasaheb Shinde in Aurangabad was heckled, pushed around and abused by the Maratha protestors. Khaire was rescued by his security and other sainiks who pushed him the vehicle there was even an attempt to stone his vehicle.
In Aurangabad there are reports of protestors burning a Fire brigade vehicle after stopping it, the police had to use tear gas to disperse the crowd; there was another attempt to burn a State Transport bus that was going from Nashik to Sangamner. The State Transport authorities have decided to stop the bus service between Nashik and Aurangabad after the incident. There were reports of stone throwing in Osmanabad which led to suspension of ST buses.
#WATCH: Maratha Kranti Morcha workers set ablaze a truck in Aurangabad's Gangapur as a mark of their protest demand… https://t.co/eJdNdCYJZN
— ANI (@ANI) 1532418732000All schools in Marathwada known for being caste riots have been given holidays as a precautionary measure. Schools were shut in Nanded too. In Parbhani protestors stopped at least four trains. Jalna too was completely shut and in Shirdi protestors stopped the Manmad- Ahmednagar road.
Maharashtra’s Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil who himself hails from the Maratha community on Tuesday appealed to the Maratha community to not resort to violence saying the situation was not in their hands. “The situation is not in our hands but it is with the courts, this cannot be resolved by agitating, If you believe that you can get reservation by stone vehicles of Ministers then do break it. Today lakhs of devotees of Lord Vithal are stuck due to the bandh. Even if we give 10 crores is Kakasaheb Shinde (youth who died yesterday) going to come back.”said Patil while speaking to reporters.
The Minister claimed that certain people were inciting the protests. “ Certain paid people have infiltrated these protests, they are trying to give a bad name to this movement. These will increaseduring the elections however the protestors should remain alert and remove them from the movement.”said Patil.