Solapur Bandh Today Amid Maratha Reservation Stir, Bus Services Suspended
The declaration was made on Sunday, when the Maratha Kranti Morcha had organised a massive rally in Pune and did a chakkajam (strike) in the city.
Solapur, July 30: The Maratha Kranti Morcha, on the issue of reservation for the Maratha community, has called for a Bandh in Maharashtra's Solapur district. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has called off the bus services in Solapur today. The declaration of bandh in Solapur was made on Sunday, when the Maratha Kranti Morcha had organised a massive rally in Pune and did a chakkajam (strike) in the city. Notably, the Congress MLA from Pandharpur constituency in Solapur named Bharat Bhalke, and the NCP MLA from Pune's Indapur constituency had submitted their resignations to the Vidhan Sabha speaker on July 26, Thursday night.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha has been demanding reservation for the Maratha community and intensified its demand from the year 2016, when silent protests were organised by the community and Morcha. It was a silent protest against the rape and murder in Kopardi area of Ahmednagar district, where a minor school girl was raped on July 13. The protesters had demanded death punishment to rapists as early as possible. The issue of reservation was also a part of the protests.
The reservation issue once again became a topic of contention, after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, issued a statement on July 22, saying that the decision on Maratha reservation will be taken only by the Bombay High Court. Following his statement, there were protests from Maratha groups in parts of Maharashtra, and things came to a boiling point after a 28-year-old named Kakasaheb Shinde died after jumping into the Godavari river on July 23, demanding reservation for Maratha community. Shinde's death triggered protest in various cities in Maharashtra and a statewide bandh was called by the Maratha Kranti Morcha on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The agitators have demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for Kakasaheb Shinde, along with compensation and government job, and demanded that Shinde be declared a martyr, as he has sacrificed his life for his community.
On July 28, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conducted an all-party meeting to discuss Maratha reservation issue. Taking to the media after the meeting, the Chief Minister said that all the parties were of the same opinion and they had decided to take a unanimous decision on the matter of Maratha reservation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2018 10:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).