Marathas stage massive show of strength

In a massive show of strength, lakhs of members of the Maratha community - men and women, cutting across ages, of different financial profiles - walked on the streets of Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country, demanding among things reservation to the community.

This is the first-ever silent Maratha Kranti Morcha in Mumbai - and the 58th across Maharashtra which coincided with the 75th anniversary of 1942 Quit India Movement when Mahatma Gandhi gave the clarion call of  'Karenge Ya Marenge’ (Do or Die).

Raising slogans like 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai' and 'Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha' - majority of them wearing saffron or white topis and mostly black shirts or T-shirts - they walked from Ranibaug Zoo at Byculla going over the JJ Flyover and culminating at the historic Azad Maidan. 

Later a delegation called on Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Vidhan Bhavan complex at Nariman Point to present their charter of demands - following which he made a statement in the floor of the House. Earlier, in the day, both the Assembly and Council, saw adjournments over the issue.

For several hours the busy junction of Azad Maidan, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation, Metro junction was choc a bloc with public severely affecting the traffic movement. More than 10,000 uniformed policemen and plainclothesmen were present - as part of the elaborate arrangements made by the Home department.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter have been used to rally the community members to garner support and ensure presence on the streets.

Speaking in the Assembly, Fadnavis assured that a  Cabinet sub-committee that would periodically review the issues raised by the Maratha Kranti Morcha and take necessary steps
As regards the reservation, he said that the Bombay High Court had stayed it and has called a report from the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission. "We will request the commission to tender the report early," the chief minister said.

Meanwhile, the Maratha brigade which trooped into Mumbai from the five entry points, besides the railways, resulted in huge traffic jams in Mumbai and neighbouring districts of Thane, Raigad and Palghar. The rally saw participation of Marathas from all the 36 districts of Maharashtra.

They have been reaching the state capital by trains, private vehicles, trucks, tempos and even two-wheelers waving Maratha flags and sporting bright orange turbans, entering through railway stations and the five entry points.