Maratha Protesters call for bandh on July 25; Mumbai, Thane to remain closed

A state-wide Maharashtra bandh on Tuesday took a violent turn leaving two protesters and a policeman dead as outfits seeking reservations for the Maratha community pelted stones and torched vehicles in Aurangabad and adjoining districts of Maharashtra.

The Sakai Marathi Organization had called for a peaceful protest against the government for failing to keep their promises but with violence escalating between the police and the Maratha supporters, the groups responsible have called for a Mumbai bandh on July 25.

Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Palghar and Navi Mumbai will observe a bandh tomorrow, said the Maratha Kranti Samaj. Schools, colleges, School buses and milk tanks have been exempted from the bandh but the availability of private vehicles and Taxis remain uncertain. Local trains are expected to run but may discontinue if the protests once again turn violent.

The protests, called a day after 27-year-old Kakasaheb Shinde had killed himself by jumping off a bridge into the Godavari River in Aurangabad, saw another protester Jagannath Sonawane try to emulate Shinde, by jumping into a dry river bed. He however survived after being taken to a nearby government hospital.

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Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire was manhandled when he went to attend Shinde’s last rites at his Kaygaon village in Aurangabad. Not only did he have to bear the wrath of the people there but his vehicle was also stone pelted, reported the police.

A constable named Sham Atgaonkar was killed while another was injured during a tussle with the villagers in Kaygaon, who also burned down a fire brigade van, they added.

The morcha demanded Chief Mister Devendra Fadnavis’ resignation accusing him of making false promises to the Maratha community.

“We will continue our agitation until Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis apologises to the Maratha community. We will observe bandh in Aurangabad and other parts of the state today,” said Ravindra Patil a leader of the agitation group. The group also later called for a bandh tomorrow as well.

This is however not the first time that the Martha community – which constitutes of 30% of Maharashtra’s population – has demanded fort Fadnavis’ removal. Stating in 2016, the Maratha reservation protests has been a two-year long tussle against the government.