Maratha Quota Protest HIGHLIGHTS: Internet To Be Shut In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Over Violence Fear
Maratha Reservation Protest HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this space for all the live and latest updates related to the Maratha quota protests that have taken a violent turn in parts of Maharashtra.
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Maratha Reservation Protest HIGHLIGHTS: Hello and welcome to the live blog on the updates on the Maratha quota protests that have taken a violent turn in parts of Maharashtra. Follow this space for all the live and latest updates.
As the Maratha quota protests in Maharashtra escalated, legislators faced a wave of aggression with agitators targeting their homes and offices on Monday. Additionally, two Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) from the ruling Shiv Sena party tendered their resignations in support of the reservation demand, while the state government urgently sought a resolution to the turmoil, news agency PTI reported.
In different parts of the state, protesters set homes or offices ablaze, vandalized property, and disrupted road traffic. The unrest was reported in central Maharashtra's Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts. However, there were no reported casualties from these incidents.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange continued his indefinite fast in support of the reservation demand at a village in Jalna district. On the sixth day of his fast, Jarange's health deteriorated, leading to him collapsing on stage. Concerned onlookers at the site provided him with some water upon his request, as per PTI.
NCP MLA Solanke's residence in Majalgaon town, Beed district, was set on fire and subjected to stone-throwing by a group of quota agitators late in the morning. The incident occurred after an audio clip of Solanke went viral, in which he made comments about the Maratha quota agitation and the fasting activist Jarange.
Solanke confirmed he was in Majalgaon when the incident occurred and expressed support for the Maratha reservation demand. His house and car were torched, and stones were thrown by some individuals.
Protesters also targeted the first floor of the Majalgaon Municipal Council building and vandalized it, causing significant damage. Thankfully, no one was injured in the process, as police teams acted swiftly to evacuate the building, PTI reported.
In another incident, a group of Maratha quota activists set fire to the residential premises and office of NCP MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar in Beed city. Law enforcement authorities managed to disperse the crowd gathered outside the MLA's residence and office.
Protesters also set fire to a hotel near Beed city and blocked a section of the busy Samruddhi Expressway at Jalna, leading to a substantial traffic jam on the Mumbai-bound carriageway. In a separate incident, burning tires were used to block the Solapur-Akkalkot Highway.
Additionally, the office of BJP MLA Prashant Bamb in Gangapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, was vandalized by Maratha quota supporters, who caused damage to the office's windows and furniture. Two individuals were detained for questioning in connection with the incident.
In a show of solidarity with the Maratha reservation demand, two Shiv Sena MPs, one from Nashik and the other from Hingoli, both known for their allegiance to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, submitted their resignations. Hingoli MP Hemant Patil submitted his resignation to the Lok Sabha secretariat in New Delhi, while Nashik MP Hemant Godse sent his resignation letter to CM Shinde.
Efforts to address the Maratha reservation issue continue as the Maharashtra government works towards a resolution. The state government is engaging with Jarange, the fasting activist, and has formed a committee of experts to advise on the submission of a proposed curative petition in the Supreme Court related to the reservation matter.
Authorities are urging restraint, as some of the recent protests have led to violence and arson, tarnishing the image of the ongoing protests. Activists have emphasized the importance of peaceful demonstrations while continuing to demand reservation for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category throughout the state.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule called for the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, over the Maratha quota violence. She expressed concerns about the ongoing violence in the state and called for immediate attention to these incidents.
As a result of the protests, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) reported damage to at least 13 buses over the past 48 hours, including four on Monday. In response, the state-run transport corporation has temporarily suspended operations in 30 of its 250 depots.
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Internet to be shut down in most parts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district due to fear of violence over the Maratha quota protests.
CM Shinde Urges Maratha Quota Activist Patil To Have Faith In Govt, Maintain Peace
After the all-party meeting on the Maratha reservation, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde says, "...I request Manoj Jarange Patil to have faith in the efforts of the government...This protest has started taking a new direction...Common people should not feel insecure. I request all to maintain peace and cooperate with the state government..."
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