Agitators sit-in at Bandra collectorate

Mumbai: Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) workers held a ‘sit-in’ agitation at the Bandra collectorate on Thursday as part of a bandh to seek reservation for the Maratha community. The MKM had given a call for a peaceful agitation all over Mumbai and the Bandra protest was a part of it.

MKM workers reached the Bandra collector’s office in the morning on Thursday. Almost 300 to 350 workers were present, who protested in front of the office, demanding reservation for Marathas.

They sloganeered against chief minister Devendra Fadnavis while sitting in front of the office all day. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA from Kolhapur Prakash Ambitkar held a protest at Vidhan Bhavan on Thursday. Mr Ambitkar said that the agitation is in support of the MKM’s bandh. He slammed the state government for delaying the process of granting reservation.  Shiv Sena MLA of Radhanagari, Kolhapur, reached Mum-
bai for the protest for Maratha reservation. He requested permission to sit at the Shivaji statue inside the Vidhan Bhavan premises, but was denied permission. However, Mr Ambitkar sat in front of the main gate along with his party colleagues and workers. But, the police denied them permission to sit at Vidhan Bhavan and allowed only Mr Ambitkar.

“This is my Atma Klesh protest. Maratha community is on the road for reservation all over the state. We MLAs should unite and pass the bill for reservation. My agitation is symbolic of support to all Maratha,” Ambitkar said.