Maratha Kranti Morcha colours Mumbai saffron

More than 6 lakh people took to the streets in a silent protest march by the Maratha community, which has been demanding reservation in government jobs and education, on Wednesday. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Updated on: Aug 09, 2017 8:48 PM IST

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More than 6 lakh people took to the streets in a silent protest march by the Maratha community, which has been demanding reservation in government jobs and education, on Wednesday. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

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From 5-year-old children to senior citizens, participants marched from Byculla zoo to Azad Maidan. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

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Though the march was slated for 11 am, groups began to assemble as early as 9 am. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

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Protesters pass next to Gloria Church. This is likely to be the last rally for the Maratha community. It is their third attempt to hold a march in Mumbai after the first two failed following internal differences. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

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Protesters at Bombay Port Trust Road. (Bhushan Koyande/HT photo)

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At the end of the rally, CM Devendra Fadnavis promised Marathas concession in fees to 605 educational courses, interest-free loans up to Rs10 lakh for self-employment, Rs5 crore to each district for the construction of hostels and setting up of a district-wise committee to decide on cases filed under the Atrocities Act. (Bhushan Koyande/HT photo)

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Mumbai saw a part of history come alive on Wednesday. Many of the protesters were dressed as Shivaji Maharaj. Some also wore traditional Maharashtrian attire. Many a people also painted their bodies with the slogans written over their chest. Apart from this, t-shirts, caps and tattoos with the word ‘Maratha’ was a common sight. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

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Though the protest is known to be a ‘muk morcha’ (silent protest), slogans like ‘Ek Maratha, lakh Maratha’, ‘Ek karod Maratha’ and ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’ were repeated many times at Azad Maidan. (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)

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An all-women Maratha delegation at Azad Maidan. (HT PHOTO)

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Political leaders like Nitesh Rane and Sambhaji Raje spoke at Azad Maidan assuring the protesters. (Bhushan Koyande/HT photo)

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The Maratha rally in Mumbai blurred religious lines as not only were many Muslims a part of the rally, but organisations like the Aman committee were also seen distributing packaged water and biscuits to those protesting. Central railway officials were also seen distributing water packets. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

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People take a selfie near CST. (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)

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Policewomen take a break. (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo)

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The crowd at CST. (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)

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What’s the trigger for the protests? On July 13, 2016, a 14-year-old from Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra was allegedly raped and murdered by three men from Dalit community. According to the 350-page charge sheet filed by police in the court, the victim, who belonged to the Maratha community, was raped and murdered by Jitendra Shinde, Santosh G Bhaval and Nitin G Bhailume when she was returning home on a bicycle from her grandparents’ house in the evening. As news spread, Maratha community came out on streets in large numbers demanding stringent action against the accused. The protests also took up the long pending cause of reservation in education and jobs of the community. (Bhushan Koyande/HT photo)

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There were 3,500 volunteers to clean the city’s streets and dispose of trash left behind by protesters. (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)