Mumbai, July 25: The bandh in Maharashtra called by pro-quota Maratha groups was Wednesday marked by violence and arson even as one more protester died, a day after consuming poison.
In the wake of violence, the bandh in Mumbai was called off midway, despite which some areas continued to witness incidents like stone pelting till late evening. Marathas, a politically-influential community constituting around 30 per cent of the state’s population, have been demanding reservation in jobs and education.
Protesters attacked buses, indulged in arson and pelted stones at local trains in several parts of Maharashtra, including Mumbai and the adjoining Thane city, during the bandh called by Maratha outfits to press their demand for reservation in jobs and education.
The Mumbai-Pune and Mumbai-Goa highways were blocked for hours by the protesters. Three policemen, including a Superintendent of Police, suffered injuries in stone pelting. Police used force, including teargas shelling and baton charge, to disperse the violent protesters at several places.
A number of places saw pitched battles between the police and stone-pelters for hours. Police said several protesters were arrested for indulging in violence. The agitation assumes significance as it comes just a year ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state.
The community members have earlier organised several rallies in various districts to highlight their demands. Last year, a huge rally was organised by the Maratha Kranti Morcha in this connection in Mumbai.
The latest round of agitation, organised in the form of a bandh in various places of Maharashtra since Monday, Wednesday reached Mumbai where a shutdown was attempted to be imposed. However, the bandh in the financial capital of India, which began Wednesday morning, was called off just before 3 pm after various parts saw violence.
“We only wanted to prove that we are together and proved it. We never wanted protests to get violent and therefore, we are calling off our bandh in Mumbai for today,” Virendra Pawar, leader of the Morcha, told reporters here.
“We suspect some people carried out violent activities with political motives. Otherwise, it was supposed to be peaceful like before. But considering the reports of violence coming from outside Mumbai, we decided to call it off,” Pawar added.
Another leader of the Morcha said a bandh may be called again on August 9 but a final call in this regard will be taken after consulting all senior members of all Maratha morchas.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked the agitation leaders to come forward for talks instead of resorting to agitation and violence. He said his government was committed to provide reservation to the community but pointed out that the issue was pending before the Bombay High Court.
In a statement, Fadnavis said his government was committed to grant reservation in jobs and education to the Marathas. He pointed out that the government had passed a law in this regard which was struck down by the High Court.