Chakka jaam by Marathas has little effect on daily life

Mumbai: The chakka jaam protest called by Maratha Kranti Morcha across Maharashtra had little effect on daily life on Tuesday. While the protest was launched to alert the state government about the upcoming community morcha in Mumbai on March 6, Tuesday’s protest clearly indicated the fizzling out of an agitation that had stirred the state two months ago. The Maratha morcha’s loss of momentum also seems to indicate it would have little impact in the coming civic bodies and Zilla Parishad (ZP) elections.

Maratha Kranti Morcha had the state-wide Chakka Jaam agitation to draw the attention of the state government over the various demands of communities including reservation. The organisation committee of the Morcha had even threatened that the state would be brought to a standstill if the government does not accept and implement their various demands.  

Protests were held across the state on Tuesday. At various places different political leaders also supported and participated in protest. In Parali, Beed leader of opposition in the State Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde, took part. In Konkan it was Nitesh Rane who held an agitation. In Mumbai and surrounding region, protests were held at Mulund, Chembur, Borivli, Thane, Dombivali and Kharghar among others. But the impact anticipated by the organisers and state police department was not evident on the roads.  

State Congress chief Ashok Chavhan termed the protest as a manifestation of “anger in the mind of the common Maratha person over failure of government to meet his demands”. However, BJP raised questions over the timing of the agitation. Its spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said, “A few people are trying to milk the emotions of the community ahead of municipal and ZP elections. The matter is before court, (but) still launching agitation on the face of elections suggests the same.”