Maratha Kranti Morcha Calls Off Bandh in Mumbai, CM Ready to Talk

“The govt has taken cognisance of the protest by the Maratha community & is ready to talk to them,” Fadnavis said.

Maratha community protesters stop the traffic during their ‘Maratha Kranti Morcha Rasta Roko’ protest demanding reservation, in Thane, Mumbai on 25 July.

PTI

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

The Maratha Kranti Morcha called off the bandh it had earlier declared in Mumbai, the group’s leader Virendra Pawar said in a press conference.

“We thank Mumbaikars for their support. We had called for a peaceful bandh but if any citizen was inconvenienced, we apologise. We demand that the state government take cognisance of our demands. We call off the bandh that we had declared,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed to talks with the protesters.

The government has taken cognisance of the protest by the Maratha community and has taken several decisions. The government is ready to talk to them. The government had made a law for reservation to the community but that was stayed by the Bombay High Court.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Earlier in the day, protesters had torched tyres and vandalised buses in the state.

Sections of the Maratha community had declared a bandh in MumbaI and adjoining districts on 25 July to demand reservation for Marathas in education and government jobs.

Political reactions also poured in on Wednesday regarding the Maratha agitation. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale supported the demand for reservation.

The demand for reservations by the Marathas is a legitimate one. It has been going on for years. There is also great economic disparity in the community... I support their reservation demand. We need to make a law in Parliament to raise the reservation cap set by the Supreme Court from 50 to 75 percent. I will also keep this proposal before the NDA.

Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister

Meanwhile, the Congress questioned the Maharashtra government over the protests, with former CM Ashok Chavan saying:

There is no question of the Congress and the NCP gaining political benefit from the protests. The CM is mentioning talks but talks have been going on for four years. Till when will they keep leading the people on? People want a decision. There are no decisions being made on issues. Be it Muslims, SCs, Maratha reservations or any other issue, there is no action being taken by the government. At the time of elections, they will say – vote in our favour and then we will help. The political benefit is going to the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

Ashok Chavan, Former Maharashtra CM