Maratha Kranti Morcha takes Mumbai by storm, unrest in Maharashtra Council

Lakhs of Maratha people, including girls and women, participated in a mammoth silent rally on Wednesday in Mumbai, demanding reservation for the community, particularly in government jobs and education institutes, also demanding to hang culprits in Kopardi rape-murder case.

The 58th silent rally of Maratha Kranti Morcha, displaying placards 'Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha', commenced from Jijabhai Udyan, Byculla at around 11AM and will conclude at historic Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. People from across the state have taken active participation in the morcha. Even Marathi speaking people from Karnataka took part in the rally.

The rally also saw participation from children aged between 3-4 years. After reaching Hutatma chowk, group of youth sat on the road to block the traffic. The Police moved them further towards the state headquarters with much difficulty.

At the Azad Maidan, girls of the Maratha community were seen, delivering speech to show their anger towards the government for not supporting their issues. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city unit president Ashiah Shelar, who had gone to Azad Maidan for extending his support to the morcha, was not allowed to enter in the Azad Maidan by the youths.

The Maharashtra Council was adjourned till 3 PM due to uproar by the Opposition bench, over the Maratha reservation issue. As the House assembled for the day and Chairman Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar called question hours; the opposition leader Dhananjay Munde moved a motion under rule 289 of legislature, demanding the government to announce reservation for the Maratha Community in job as well as education field. He said in last one year, Maratha Kranti Morcha, took out 57 silence rallies, now they do not want any debate over the issue. They demand immediate announcement of reservation to the community. Members of opposition bench were shouting slogan against the government, demanding reservation to marathas'.

Following unprecedented scene in the house, Nimbalkar adjourned the house for 30 minutes. When the House was re-assembled, Nimbalkar asked Munde to explain in short how Rule 289 can stand for debate. Munde said, "We have come to know that government is saying that the way the Jat agitation was broke down in Harayan, the Patidar in Gujarat, the same thing is being done here. So, we demand the government to bring one line motion pertaining to the Maratha community on the floor of house, until then we will not allow functioning of the house." On which Nimbalkar adjourned the house proceeding till 1500 hrs. 

With inputs from UNI