In yet another incident of a community demanding reservations, yet another city was brought to a standstill. This time it was the Maratha Kranti Morcha demanding reservations for the Maratha community that called a bandh of Mumbai city to register its protest. Maratha Kranti Morcha is demanding 16 per cent reservations and is protesting against the death of a Maratha youth in Aurangabad. The band was called to press in their concerns. However, the protests soon turned violent and various agitating incidents were reported throughout the state of Maharashtra.

July the 25^th, 2018 was the fateful day when the Maratha Kranti Morcha called the band. By afternoon the protestors were blocking traffic on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and the Sion Panvel highway. Also, shops were forced shut in Raigad and local train routes were blocked in Jogeshwari and Thane. In Bandra, the workers of Maratha Kranti Morcha requested the shopkeepers with folded hands to shut down their shops. Immense security measures had been taken to curb violence after the announcement of the band. The death of a man who jumped into a river n Aurangabad however triggered such violence that all the safety measures failed at some point. Schools remained open while private bus service providers refused to get their buses on road. Internet services were suspended in rural areas of Aurangabad as a preventive measure. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis appealed for calm and stated the government’s seriousness on the issue of considering the reservations.

Despite Maratha Kranti Morcha’s insistence on it being a peaceful protest not meaning to cause harm, incidents of bloodshed were reported. A constable posted near the funeral venue of the man that jumped into the river was killed and another suffered injuries from stone pelting. To the credit of Maratha Kranti Morcha, they called off the protests in the backdrop of it turning violent instead of fanning the issue. Marathas constitute 30 percent of the state’s population and affirmative action for them has been a burning issue.

We wait to see how the government acts on its promises to the Maratha Kranti Morcha and what further course of action they adopt.
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