Marathas unite for reservation

Mumbai: Lakhs of Maratha people, including girls and women, participated in a mammoth silent rally here today, demanding reservation to the community, particularly in jobs and education, also demanding to hang culprits in Kopardi rape-cum-murder case.

The 58th silent rally of Maratha Kranti Morcha, displaying placards 'Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha', commenced from Jijabhai Udyan, Byculla at around 1100 hrs, and will conclude at historic Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. In the Morcha, people from across the state have taken active participation, Marathi speaking people from Karnataka also took part in the rally.

Not only youths, kids at between age of 3-4 years also participated, giving bytes to the media over the reservation. After reaching Hutatma chowk, a group of youths sat on the road to block the traffic.

Police were facing hardships to stop them to move further towards the state headquarters. At the Azad Maidan, girls were seen, delivering speech from dias to show their anger towards the government for attending their issues. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city unit president Ashiah Shelar, who had gone to Azad Maidan for extending his support to the morcha, was not allowed to enter in the Azad Maidan by the youths.

The South Mumbai area was today turned into the saffron, everywhere, saffron flag, people were wearing saffron colour caps, displaying placards 'Maratha, Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha.' Heritage building Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) also turned into saffron. Trains on harbour line and Main lines were also packed, people were shouting 'Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji.' Most of the leaders also rushed to Azad Maidan, to show their support to Maratha community. (UNI)