The ‘bandh’ protest organized by various Maratha organizations in Nashik district, Maharashtra, in response to the recent police lathi-charge on demonstrators demanding community quota rights in Jalna, garnered a mixed response.
The bandh call was issued by ‘Sakal Maratha Samaj’ and ‘Maratha Kranti Morcha.’
The agitation for Maratha community reservation turned violent in Antarwali Sarathi village, Jalna district, on Friday, resulting in injuries to several individuals, including dozens of police officers. Police used lathi-charges and tear gas to disperse a mob that allegedly hindered authorities from transferring a hunger-striking protester to the hospital.
In Nashik city, the Maratha Kranti Morcha and other organizations organized a protest march, commencing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue and proceeding through various areas, including Ravivar Karanja and Main Road. They urged shopkeepers to temporarily close their establishments, leading to partial closures that later reopened in the afternoon.
Essential services, including bus transportation, continued without disruption, although the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) suspended bus services to Jalna and Ahmednagar.
Karan Gaykar, the Swarajya Party state convener, emphasized that people from across the district voluntarily participated in the bandh and were not coerced into doing so. He called on State Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis to take responsibility for the Jalna lathi-charge incident and resign, cautioning against injustice to the Maratha community.
Given the bandh call, authorities maintained a strong presence in key city areas.
Additionally, a ‘rasta roko’ (road blockade) protest concerning the issue was staged on Vani-Saputara Road at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Chowk in the morning, causing a one-hour traffic standstill.
