Maratha Kranti Morcha: Calls for Mumbai bandh in process, Raj Thackeray cuts short rally

The Maratha Kranti Morcha protests have turned violent and have prompted Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray to cut short his Marathwada tour. The MNS leader was on a Marathwada tour to address rallies for the upcoming 2019 elections, however, there are curfews in several parts of Maharashtra.

“We will observe a peaceful bandh tomorrow. Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad to be bandh tomorrow. Schools and colleges will not be included in this bandh as we do not intend to trouble anyone”, said an official spokesperson from the Maratha Kranti Samaj.

The protesting Maratha community has claimed that despite assurances from state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, no concrete steps have been taken so far in alloting reservations to the community. The Maratha groups, however, will not stop public transport and emergency services from operating.

On Monday, the Maratha agitation took a tragic turn after a Shinde jumped to his death in Godavari river near Aurangabad. This suicide triggered the violent protests happening across the state.

Protesters blocked the Ahmednagar-Aurangabad highway and damaged a dozen vehicles, including a police van and a bus, in Gangakhed tehsil of Parbhani district.These protests have also spread to other parts of the states such as Jalna, Usmanabad, Beed, Nanded where schools and colleges have been shut down.

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