Mumbai, Aug 1: The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which has been spearheading agitation for reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education, will launch Jail Bharo Andolan in Mumbai today in a bid to pressurise the Maharashtra government. A team of 14 Maratha Kranti Morcha members will stage a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan and reiterate their demands. Catch live updates on Maratha Kranti Morcha's Jail Bharo Andolan in Mumbai here.
In order to maintain law and order in Mumbai, the police are on their toes. Cops in other parts of Maharashtra were also asked to remain alert in the wake of Jail Bharo Andolan. The communities’ major demands are — reservation, loan waiver, justice in Kopardi rape and scrapping of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A section of the community believes that reservation for SC/STs and OBCs hurts their job and educational prospects.
Their other demands are - decision on the Maratha quota at the earliest, all cases against Maratha protesters be taken back, action against the officers responsible for firing and lathi charge during July 25 protest, resignation or sacking of ministers MLAs who gave irresponsible statements against Maratha community.
Maratha Kranti Morcha leader Amol Jadhavarao said some of their demands were accepted by the state government after an all-party meeting called by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, no official orders were issued, he said. On July 27, Fadnavis had invited all party leaders for a meeting to discuss the ongoing Maratha stir. After the meeting, he said that the government was waiting for Backward Commission's report.
Fadnavis on Tuesday assured that his government is working towards finding a permanent solution to combat the crisis. "We have approached the backward commission and we are working with them to get the Maratha reservation issue resolved at the earliest," said Fadnavis.