MKM warns state on quota decision

Mumbai: Maratha protesters have warned that if the state government does not take a decision on granting reservation to the community at the earliest, they will not allow the winter session of the state legislature to commence at Nagpur.

Co-ordinators of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) — which is leading the statewide protests over reservation — met in Vikhroli, Mumbai, on Sunday to prepare for their August 9 morcha. The main morcha will take place in Kolhapur, with the community also planning smaller marches in other regions of the state.

During the meeting, the leaders issued a warning saying, “The state government has to give us a proper plan of how it will implement quota. If it fails, we will not let the winter session of the legislature commence.”They also appealed for a peaceful protest on August 9. “The protest will be peaceful and no agitator will take the law into his hand. Our organisation has decided to carry out a peaceful protest for the cause,” they said.

Meanwhile, incidents of violence continued even on Sunday. BJP’s Nandurbar MP Hina Gavit was in Dhule on Sunday. While she was heading to the Dhule district collector’s office, angry protesters ran after her car and even stood on it while Ms Gavit was inside, according to local reports.

This continued for 15 whole minutes even as the police later clarified that Ms Gavit was pulled safely out of her car. Ms Gavit represents Nandurbar Lok Sabha seat. Police have detained 16 protesters in connection with the incident.