Indore: Marathas take out rally against rape, seek reservation

Over 200 members of Maratha Samaj held a silent protest march from Rajwada to the collectorate in Indore on Sunday to press for amendments in SC, ST (Prevention) Atrocities Act, reservation for Marathas and justice for the rape of a Maratha girl in Maharashtra.

Over 200 members of Maratha Samaj held a silent protest march from Rajwada to the collectorate in Indore on Sunday to press for amendments in SC, ST (Prevention) Atrocities Act, reservation for Marathas and justice for the rape of a Maratha girl in Maharashtra.

Marathas seek justice for a rape victim in Indore on Sunday. (Arun Mondhe / HT)

Held under the aegis of Maratha Kranti (Muk) Morcha, rally members raised slogans “Ek Maratha, lakh Maratha” at Rajwada before holding the silent march. Five girls in black T-shirts holding saffron colour flags addressed the participants before taking out the protest rally, joined by community members from Dewas, Mhow and Pithampur.

Sunday’s rally follows massive protest marches held in Mumbai in the last month for similar demands. Marathas also demand setting up of statues of Maratha ruler Shivaji’s mother Jija Bai in Indore and at the university named after Chhatrapati Shivaji.

The community members also demanded that police discontinue the practice of writing Maratha after registering the name of the accused or convict instead of writing the person’s surname which, they said, damages the community’s image.