The Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state’s population, have been campaigning for quotas in government jobs and education.
MUMBAI: The Maratha Kranti Morcha has called for a State-wide bandh on Tuesday after a young protester committed suicide in Aurangabad district on Monday.
The Maratha groups have demanded an apology from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Kakasaheb Shinde, 27-year-old protester, on Monday jumped off a bridge over Godavari River in Aurangabad. Shinde was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.
Violent protests have erupted in parts of Maharashtra over the Maratha community’s demand for quota in government jobs and education.
The protests escalated after a man jumped into the river in Aurangabad on Monday. Calling the death “unfortunate”, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today appealed for calm and said the government was serious about a resolution.
The Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state’s population, have been campaigning for quotas in government jobs and education.
Protests were also reported from Sangli and Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.Kakasaheb Shinde, who was participating in the protests, jumped off a bridge into the Godavari River. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead, police said.
The Maratha reservation agitation has forced MaharashtraNavnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray to cut short his tour of Marathwada.
Acceding to police exhortations, Mr. Thackeray cancelled his tour of Beed district mid-morning on Tuesday and returned to Aurangabad.
State Transport buses along the Pune – Aurangabad route have been cancelled in wake of the intensity of the protest.
Protesters blocked the Ahmednagar-Aurangabad highway and damaged a dozen vehicles, including a police van and a bus, in Gangakhed tehsil of Parbhani district.
