A group of protestors blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway for two hours on Tuesday afternoon, causing a massive traffic jam. The mob is not ready to back down, as the jam prevails on both sides.
Another group of Maratha Kranti Morcha workers blocked the railway tracks in Solapur. Visuals of the agitation showed protestors burning tires on the railway tracks, holding saffron flags, demanding reservation for the Maratha community.
Railway officials and Solapur City Police detained two protesters, identified as Ram Jadhav and Nishant Salve, in the matter. The officials managed to get the protesters off the railway tracks, even as the protests continue.
Meanwhile, in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, a group of people set ablaze a panchayat samiti office during a protest, police said on Tuesday.
Supporters chanting “Ek Maratha Lakh Maratha” reached the panchayat samiti office at Ghansawangi in the district on Monday night, and vandalised property by setting it on fire.
Some important documents and furniture in two rooms of the office were damaged, an official from Ghansawangi police station said.
In another incident in Jalna, some youth from the Maratha community tried to block trains at a railway gate in Shelgaon village of Badnapur tehsil on Monday afternoon. The protesters sat on the railway tracks in a bid to disrupt train services.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has been continuing his indefinite fast in support of the reservation demand at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district since October 25.
On Tuesday, he said that the Maratha community will not accept an “incomplete reservation” and the Maharashtra government should call a special session of the state legislature on the issue.
A mob of Maratha agitators had also gathered outside the residence of NCP (Ajit pawar faction) leader Amarsingh Pandit and police fired tear-gas shells to disperse them.
Amid the ruckus across the state, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday demanded the Centre to resolve the issue of Maratha reservation by calling a special session of Parliament.
Reacting to the ongoing situation in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “The state government is positively working to solve Maratha quota issue.”
He further said, “Some people are taking advantage of this protest and spreading violence. In Beed, certain public representatives’ houses, hotels, vehicles and government establishments are burnt down,” adding, “Additional forces have been deployed and mobilised in affected areas.”
Fadnavis also said that the home department will act sternly and at least 50 to 55 culprits have been identified through CCTV footage.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) will be implemented. Those creating nuisances will not be tolerated, he added.
“Few political leaders and their workers are also identified in such riots. They will be booked under appropriate sections,” Fadnavis said.
About Post Author
