[caption id="attachment_197321" align="aligncenter" width="600"]
Police personnel lathi charge on stone pelting Maratha Kranti Morcha protesters during their statewide bandh, called for reservations in jobs and education protesters, in Thane on Wednesday, July 25, 2018. (PTI Photo/Mitesh Bhuvad) [/caption]
Mumbai, July 25 (IANS): The shutdown by Maratha groups seeking reservation evoked a mixed response on Wednesday in Mumbai and the coastal districts of Maharashtra, but ended on a violent note as police tear-gassed and caned protestors.
The state government hastily agreed to hold talks with the agitation leaders even as a protestor Jagannath Sonawane, 55, who had consumed poison in Devgaon-Rangari village in Aurangabad, succumbed in a government hospital, taking the death toll in the three-day agitation to two.
On Monday, 28-year-old Kakasaheb Dattatreya Shinde had committed suicide by jumping into the Godavari river in the same district, triggering massive protests.
Since Wednesday morning, a large groups of Maratha activists carrying saffron flags and banners took out noisy processions amid tight security in Mumbai and other districts like Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
Shouting 'Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha', 'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai', they condemned the government for not heeding their demands over two years of peaceful agitation.
Maratha Kranti Morcha Convenor Virendra Pawar called a press conference to announce withdrawal of the stir at 3 p.m., after nearly eight hours.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responded by saying that the state government had taken cognizance and was willing to discuss and resolve the issue.
"We have taken several decisions for the Maratha community and are committed to giving them reservation. Presently, the matter is sub judice," Fadnavis added.
Holding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena government responsible for the agitation, state Congress President Ashok Chavan said that it let down not only the Marathas, but also the Dhangars and the Muslims.
"For how long will you deceive the people? No more talks, now its time for action," Chavan said.
Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale said that law needs to be amended to raise the reservation cap from 50 to 70 per cent and promised to raise the issue with the National Democratic Alliance.
The Marathas are seeking reservation in government jobs and education, with the agitation remaining peaceful in over two years, including holding of silent processions in over a dozen districts.
