Mumbai Bandh Called Off by Maratha Groups Protesting For Quota in Maharashtra
Stone-pelting and arson were reported from several parts of the state, which remained on edge today. Earlier in the day, protesters attacked buses and stopped local trains across the city today during the bandh called by Maratha outfits over their demand for reservation.
Mumbai, July 25: After violent protests erupted in parts of Maharashtra, the Maratha outfits called off their state-wide protest on Wednesday afternoon and appealed their workers in Thane and Navi Mumbai area to call off the stir. The Maratha community has been demanding reservations in government jobs and education. Large-scale violence marred a state-wide protest since Tuesday as protesters blocked roads, forcibly asked shops to shut down and resorted to stone pelting at various places.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha had called for a two-day state-wide bandh on Tuesday and Wednesday to press for their demand of 16% reservation and to protest against the death of a protester, Kakasaheb Dattatreya Shinde, who committed suicide in Aurangabad district on Monday. Shinde's death triggered a fresh set of protests in several parts of Maharashtra. Another protester who attempted suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday in Aurangabad's Deogaon Rangari, died in a hospital today.
Maratha Kranti Morcha leader Virendra Pawar said that his outfit was not part of any violence during the protest and also added that they do not want to disturb Mumbaikars. The quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community constitutes around 30 per cent of Maharashtra's population.
Stone-pelting and arson were reported from several parts of the state, which remained on edge during the protest on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, protesters attacked buses and stopped local trains at Thane, Airoli, Ghansoli and Jogeshwari railway stations as a mark of protest.
Nine public buses were attacked by agitators in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai, a transport official said. According to reports by ANI, protesters also pelted stones on two Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses near Navi Mumbai’s Ghansoli this morning. BEST bus services from Airoli to Vashi were also completely stopped today in the light of Maharashtra bandh.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2018 02:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).