Agitators move away from the highway, makes way for traffic. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty) Agitators move away from the highway, makes way for traffic. (Express Photo by Amit Chakravarty)

The Maratha Kranti Morcha on Wednesday called off its state-wide bandh after an intensified protest for almost two days, demanding reservation in jobs and education on Wednesday. The pro-reservation groups today tried staging a “peaceful” strike in the state, however, several incidents of violence were reported. At least three buses were put on fire and nine others were deflated. Essential services like hospitals, school, medical were exempted from the Bandh. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had on Tuesday called for an emergency high-level meeting to review the “progress” made by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on the issue.

The Maratha leaders want the government to give them OBC status and not reservation because any quota, beyond the existing 50 per cent, would be difficult to implement. On the other hand, if the Marathas are granted OBC status, they would qualify for the existing OBC quotas.

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The protesters have now vowed to gherao ‘Varsha’, the official residence of the chief minister in Mumbai, press for his resignation and seek finality to their demands.

Maratha reservation Protest in pictures

In a scheduled recruitment to 72,000 government jobs, Fadnavis had promised that the government would keep 16 per cent positions reserved for the Marathas. “There would be no injustice meted out to the Maratha community.”