Mumbai, July 24: Maratha groups have called for Maharashtra Bandh today i.e July 24 demanding reservation for community in government jobs and education. Public transport and emergency services in Mumbai, Pune and Solapur will remain unaffected as the cities are excluded from the Maharashtra Bandh stir. Local train services in Mumbai won't be disrupted either.

The call for Maharashtra Bandh was given after a 27-year-old protester, Kakasaheb Shinde, on Monday jumped into the Godavari river near Aurangabad over his demand for reservations and subsequently drowned. On the same day, state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis cancelled his visit to Vittal Temple in Pandharpur after Maratha groups threatened to cause stampede by releasing snakes among devotees.

Maharashtra Bandh Today: Here Are The Service That Will Shut or Stay Open:

• Public transport services, government and private, in Mumbai, Pune and Solapur will remain unaffected.
• Auto rickshaw and taxi will be available.
• Local trains on all four lines in Mumbai - Central, Western, Harbour and Trans Harbour - will run usually.
• Educational institues in these cities will function normally.
• Government and private offices will stay open.
• Public transport in other parts of Maharashtra is likely to get disrupted due to Maharashtra Bandh.
• Authorities may decide to shut school and colleges if the protests get violent.

Kakasaheb Shinde’s death triggered a fresh set of protests in several parts of Maharashtra. Maratha Kranti Morcha, an outfit that has been leading the stir, said Shinde's body won't be accepted until CM Fadnavis resigns.  Aurangabad District Magistrate, Uday Choudhary, said that a report on the issue of reservation would be submitted soon to the state government.

"Maharashtra government has accepted most of the demands of Maratha Kranti Morcha and the report for the main demand for reservation will be sent to the government shortly," he told ANI.

Earlier, Marathas took to streets demanding reservation and scrapping of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The belief that reservation for SC/STs and OBCs hurts their job and educational prospects is one of the main reason behind Maratha dissent.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2018 08:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).