Maratha Kranti Morcha in Mumbai: House proceedings adjourned till 3pm

Legislators from all parties have now joined the protest rally at Azad Maidan

The issue of the Maratha Kranti Morcha led to adjournment of proceedings in both Houses of Maharashtra legislature on Wednesday. After members from the treasury and opposition benches joined in sloganeering to support reservation for the Maratha community, leading to pandemonium, proceedings in both the Houses have been adjourned till 3pm.

The silent protest march will begin at 11am from Byculla and end around 5pm at Azad Maidan. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

Legislators from all parties have now joined the Maratha Kranti Morcha at Azad Maidan.

Soon after the House proceedings began in the Assembly, members from all parties entered the well and climbed up the dais in front of the Speaker. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) group leader Jayant Patil demanded an adjournment motion be admitted by keeping aside other House proceedings. He also demanded a one-line resolution granting reservation to Maratha community in government jobs and education to be passed in the Assembly.

The pandemonium amid the demand continued and led to two adjournments of 10 and 30 minutes, respectively, and proceedings were then adjourned till 3pm.

Legislative Council, too, was adjourned twice over the Maratha reservation issue. The leader of Opposition in the Upper House, Dhananjay Munde, demanded reservation for the community. Amid sloganeering, Munde said the government has been discussing the issue. “Now enough of discussion, we demand reservation for Marathas,” Munde said.

After both the Houses were adjourned, NCP and Congress leaders shouted slogans outside the Legislative Assembly and proceeded to join the morcha, which ends at Azad Maidan. Before heading towards Azad Maidan, Congress and NCP legilslators and leaders paid tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji at his statue in Vidhan Bhavan premises.