Mumbai: After having postponed the dates thrice, the Maratha Kranti Morcha (revolutionary rally), an umbrella organisation of the Maratha community, will finally hold its rally on August 9. Organisers, on Wednesday, declared that come August 9, Mumbai would get to see the mammoth rally placing demands pending since a long time. After the last rally, which was organized in Nagpur in December 2016, this rally comes after a break of almost seven months.

In October and November 2016, Maharashtra witnessed huge Maratha rallies in almost every district city. The rallies began after a minor girl from the Maratha community was raped in Kopardi village of Ahmednagar, north Maharashtra. The community then made a call for the rally in response to the incident.

The rally began from Aurangabad under Maratha Kranti Morcha’s banner.

The Maratha community has been dominant both, politically and demographically, with more than 32 per cent population. In the backdrop of this, huge rallies in districts like Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur and Nanded comprising of upto 20 lakh Marathas had stirred the state’s political and social circle. Forty-nine rallies have taken place in almost all districts of the state till now.

Organisers of the rally had been planning the Mumbai rally since December 2016. But as the state was under the code of conduct first for the municipal council, then zilla parishad and later municipal corporation elections, organisers had to shift the dates.

 A rally was also planned in January 2017 but was later cancelled citing reason of law and order on the eve of elections.

Key demands

• The Maratha kranti morcha (revolutionary rally) has put various demands forth the government.
• Capital punishment to the Kopardi rape case accused.
• Reservation similar to the OBC but not under the OBC quota.
• Farmers’ loan waiver.
• There are various other demands as per district and local condition.
• A huge Maratha morcha was organised in October and November 2016. The first morcha itself, from Aurangabad, comprised of almost five lakh people. The number increased further as the agitation gained momentum. Huge morchas were organised in Ahmednagar, Pune, Solapur, Nanded and Nasik. There were claims that participants numbered over 20 lakh.