Maratha reservations agitation takes a villager’s life

A man jumped into the river Godavari and drowned himself to death while agitating over the demand for reservations for the Maratha community.

The police said that the youth has been identified as Kakasaheb Dattatreya Shinde, 28, who belongs to Kaanad village in the district.

Shinde, out of no where leapt into the river demanding reservations from the government. The incident took place yesterday afternoon during an agitation by various Maratha groups at Kaigaon in Sillod.

After Shinde jumped into the river, the rescue team was on field for rescuing him but unfortunately he failed to survive as the raging river was energised by the severe spell of monsoon in recent weeks.

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The incident occurred a day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was witnessed performing the customary official puja at the Lord Vitthal and his consort Rukmini’s Pandharpur Temple, Solapur district on the auspicious ”Ashadi Ekadashi” day.

Following widespread protests and threats by various Maratha community associations and groups demanding reservations for the community, Mr Fadnavis took decision to head out of the puja celebrations scheduled on Monday.

Last week also, during the Monsoon Session of Maharashtra Legislature in Nagpur the agitation over Maratha reservations was prominently raised.

Various outfits in this regard have demanded Devendra Fadnavis’ resignation and has staged roadblocks outside Kaigaon (Aurangabad) and Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur and smashed tomatoes at a statue of Mr Fadnavis in Thane. Initially, Shinde’s family refused to take the body of the deceased, but later on his last rites were completed today in Kaygaon village, Gangapur tehsil.

To inform the Maharashtra population various Maratha groups have announced Maharashtra shutdown on August 9 as the day is also celebrated as August Kranti Day with intention to intensify the agitation which is going on since nearly two years.

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