Mega rally paints Mumbai saffron

Mumbai: Around seven lakh people participated in the Maratha silent march on Wednesday, which began at around 11 am from Jijamata Udyan, Byculla and concluded at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai. The route taken by the protesters looked like a sea of humanity, with participants carrying saffron flags, headgears and placards, demanding punishment for the Kopardi rapists, reservation for Marathas and amending the Atrocities Act.

The mass of humanity that assembled on Mumbai streets was a sight the city had not witnessed in the recent past.

Men, children, women, young and old walked marched for 6.4 kilometres from Jijamata Udyan to Azad Maidan. The participants were enthused about presenting their demands to the state government. Most of the participants that spoke to The Asian Age said that they attended the rally to demand reservation in jobs and education and amendment to the atrocities act. The protest movement was started by the Maratha Kranti Morcha on August 9, 2016. Silent marches have been held in 58 cities across the state. The protest had erupted after the brutal rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl belonging to the Maratha community in Kopardi, Ahmednagar district in July 2016.

For last one year, Maratha rallies were organised in various districts of Maharashtra and were reportedly disciplined and organised. Even on Wednesday, one lane of the road was kept open for emergency vehicles such ambulance. The protesters made way made for two ambulances on Wednesday. Maratha morcha protesters also cleaned roads after the march reached Azad maidan.

The youngsters from various parts of the state took part in the rally. Along with youngsters, women and children also attended the march in huge numbers.

When the march reached Azad Maidan near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CST), the ground was already almost packed. People had to stand outside the ground. A woman from Solapur said, “Today Shiv Saagar (Sea of Shivaji’s followers) is meeting Arabi saagar (Arabian Sea).”.

The crowd started gathering at Azad Maidan around 9 am. At 11.30 am, young, and school girls addressed the crowd. The rule set by Maratha Kranti Morcha core committee that no political leader will be allowed to address the rallies was followed. Girls raised issues of Maratha reservation, stern punishment for the accused in Kopardi rape case, implementation of Swami Nathan Commission and minimum support price for crops.

Youngsters of Aai Saheb Yuva Sanghatan painted their body with various demands of Marathas community. “If the Government does not comply with our demands, we will go out of our way to do so,” said a protester.

A large number of protesters were disappointed after they received information about chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ speech in the State Assembly. “We were expecting firm decision from Devendraji. But he repeated all those points which he had said in Nagpur legislative session in December 2016,” said Krishnanath Patil, (70) from Buldana.

“Community has realised its identity. All age groups are united,” said Priyanka More from Sion Koliwada.