Maratha youth kills self for reservation

A youth ended his life by jumping into the Godavari river in Aurangabad district on Monday demanding reservations to the Maratha community.

The incident coincides with 'Ashadi Ekadashi'. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis could not perform the customary puja of Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur in Solapur district in view of threats by the Maratha community associations.

On Sunday, in view of the safety of 10 lakh devotees, Fadnavis was forced to cancel the trip to Pandharpur, but said that the matter, as of now, is before the court.

The youth was identified as Kakasaheb Dattatreya Shinde (28). He was reportedly working as a driver and was also a Shiv Sena worker.

The incident was reported from the Kannad village in Gangapur tehsil of Aurangabad district. Shinde jumped into the Godavari river during the Jal Samadhi Andolan.

During the protests, he jumped into the river surprising everyone. Although he was trapped in the strong currents, the fishermen managed to bring him out.

He was taken to the Gangapur Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Since last week, Maratha organisations had heightened the protests demanding reservations, even as the issue had been raised during the Nagpur Monsoon Session of the Maharashtra legislature.

After the incident, the protests took a violent turn, and police vans and buses were stoned. At least, one bus was torched, according to reports reaching here.

The family has refused to take the body. "During the protests, my brother ended his life, we want justice. We will not take the body," his brother Avinash said, demanding that a case should be registered against Fadnavis.

Aurangabad Collector Uday Chaudhari had left the district headquarters for Gangapur.

Leaders of various politicial parties, particularly Maratha leaders, have appealed to the protestors to stay calm and not take any untoward steps.

Maratha morcha

From 9 August, 2016 to 9 August, 2017, a total of 58 rallies had been held across Maharashtra over Maratha reservation.

In July 2018, the protests intensified and a series of sit-ins and road blockades were reported from across the state.

The Marathas account for 32%-35% of Maharashtra’s population,and a significant percentage of this are economically and financially weaker.