Maratha groups have said that they will intensify their protests in Mumbai over reservation for its community members in government jobs and education. The Maratha Kranti Morcha, a regional outfit in the state, also said that it will launch a "Jail Bharo Andolan", or "fill the prisons protest" in Mumbai on Wednesday, Aug 1.
Here are the LIVE updates:
- An English daily said that the Jail Bharo Andolan will continue till August 8. If their demands are not granted till then, they will start uncooperative protests from August 9.
- Protestors have gathered Maratha at Mumbai's Azad Maidan at around 11 am. They said that they will hold peaceful protests.
- Protesters blocked the Pune-Solapur highway.
- On Tuesday (July 31), a 17-year-old student killed himself by jumping into a well at Vadodbazar village in Fulambri teshil of Aurangabad district. The same day, a labourer named Abhijeet Deshmukh also took his life owing to unemployment and unpaid bank loan.
- The protest has been marked by several tragic incidents including the youth killing themselves and attempting suicides.
The first person who resorted to suicide was a 27-year-old youth named Kakasaheb Shinde killed himself by jumping into the Godavari river.
"Two people attempted suicide in Maharashtra today. Jayant Sonavne attempted suicide by jumping into river and Jagannath Sonavne alias Guddu consumed poison in Deogaon Rangari in Aurangabad.They're in hospital," the ANI reported on July 24. - Besides demanding reservation for the maratha community, the other major demands of the protesters are a quick decision on the Maratha quota, all complaints against against Maratha protesters should be taken back, action should be taken against the officers, who resorted to firing and lathi charge on July 25, and that ministers and MLAs, who gave irresponsible statements against Maratha community should be sacked, reported NDTV.
- Keeping in mind, the violence that had erupted on July 24 and July 25, security has been tightened across Mumbai.
- 14 Maratha Kranti Morcha members have said that they will stage a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan and also spell out their demands. However, they added that they will not engage in any kind of violence and will also not call any bandh.
- Though the Maratha Kranti Morcha had called off the Mumbai bandh, it has now launched the "Jail Bharo Andolan".
- The protests by the marathas has been going on since July 24, when the agitators had called for a bandh.
- Maratha Kranti Morcha, the group which is spearheading the protest for reservation of their community members, issued a statement regarding their andolan.
