Mumbai: A group of organisations belonging to the Maratha community on Friday started a second round of protest from Tuljapur, seeking reservations in state jobs for Maratha youths.
The community had hit the streets from August to December 2016 for various demands, including reservation, implementation of the Swaminathan commission for farmers, and rethinking of the Atrocities Act. There were almost 58 rallies all over Maharashtra.
The BJP-led government formed a cabinet sub-committee for negotiations with the community. The committee took decisions, including fee reimbursement of Maratha students for 600 different courses. The government also established a Saarathi organisation for study of the community.
However as nothing came out of all this on the reservation front, a few organisations have claimed that they will now intensify the agitation.
Organisations like Chhava and others which are known for their aggressive stand on community issues have planned a rally in Tuljapur, Osmanabad, on Friday.
According to them, this is the first rally for demands of the Maratha community. Many of the speakers in this rally have warned the state government of the consequences if their demands are not met.
The second wave of protests is aimed at pressurising the state government. As the Maratha community is the largest community in the state, making up 32 per cent of the population, the state government is likely to come under political pressure with the resuming of these marches.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that a few organisers of the earlier marches are keeping their distance from the new wave of agitation.
