Marathas intensify quota stir with jail-bharo

Intensifying the stir for reservation, Maratha community organisations on Wednesday organsied a jail-bharo andolan ahead of the August 9 mega-protest in Maharashtra.

The main jail-bharo agitation was held at the historic Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Hundreds of Maratha youths courted arrest demanding reservation for the community. “The jail-bharo has been a success,” said Maratha Kranti Morcha convenor Virendra Pawar.

Reports of protests reached here from Nashik, Parbhani, Solapur and Kolhapur.

Besides reservation, the protestors also demanded resignation of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for "hurting the sentiments of the community".

They also said that despite assurances, cases against Maratha youth have not been withdrawn. So far, five persons have committed suicide demanding reservation for the community.

A large number of Marathas demonstrated outside the residence of guardian minister of Latur district, Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar and raised slogans.

Tonsure head

In Aurangabad, a few Maratha activists tonsured their heads as a mark of protest against the government's inability to provide them reservation.

From August 9, Maratha groups will take out protest marches all over the state and converge in Mumbai before laying a siege to Mantralaya, the state government headquarters in Nariman Point.