Maratha quota agitation highlights: Another round of protests planned to keep up pressure

Maratha outfits demanding reservation for the community will launch another round of protests in the state on Wednesday. The agitation has intensified despite chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ commitment to grant reservation to the community. Sit-in protests outside the residences of lawmakers across Maharashtra and at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan have been planned. Demonstration in the state last week had turned violent and five protesters reportedly committed suicide in solidarity with the Maratha demand since July 23. Maharashtra currently has 52% per cent reservation for various categories including other backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in education and government jobs. Here are the highlights on Maratha protests:

12:00pm IST

Mumbai police personnel at Azad Maidan for Wednesday’s jail bharo protest. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

First batch of protesters arrive

Around 10-20 protesters reach Azad Maidan, start shouting slogans. They say they will not leave the spot till Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis withdraws all police cases registered against youngsters from the community. They also demand that a case be filed against the CM, minister Chandrakant Patil and MLA Ram Kadam for their statements against the Maratha agitation.

11:00am IST

Jail Bharo andolan in Mumbai

Maratha outfits in the state have announced that they will launch a ‘jail bharo andolan’ to press for reservations in government jobs and education on Wednesday morning.