Communities rally behind Marathas

Muslim organisaton sends ambulances and sponsors medicines.

The Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) in Nashik on Saturday saw unprecedented support from many community and caste organisations, including Muslims putting up food and water distribution outlets. An official holiday was announced in the city.

Maratha leaders of all political hues had come together. The Bohra community sent ambulances and sponsored free medicine throughout the city.

Social worker Murtuza Kanchwala said his organisation had distributed water. “The main focus was medical emergency. We sent ambulances and doctors to cater to such emergencies,” he said. Haseeb Khan said food and water was important for the agitators, who had come from a distance of nearly 100 km. “So we put up stalls and distributed food and water,” he said.

The Brahman Mahasangh (BM), an all India body representing all Brahmin sects, supported the MKM on key issues of reservation and atrocity laws. Mahasangh president and industrialist Dhananjay Bele told The Asian Age that majority of Marathas were living in poverty and reservation was necessary. “Similarly, it is necessary to give the strictest punishment to the Khopardi perpetrators and repeal the atrocity laws,” Bele said. Senior BM leaders Dnyanesh Deshpande and Sham Mule were also present.

Yajurvedia Brahman Mahasangh, Samata Parishad, Maheshwari Samaj Sanstha, Nabik Mahasangh, Wani Sanstha, Vanzari Parishad, Bohara community, Akhil Bharatiya Marwadi-Gujarati Manch, Muslim organisations, among others, have supported the MKM. “The Khopardi incident is a black smear on the kingdom of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the culprits should be given exemplary punishment. They should be brought before the people and shot,” said MP Udayanraje Bhosale, also the Chhatrapati of the Satara throne.

“Reservations should be given to the poor. Due to reservations Indians have gone abroad and prospered. However politicians have created a divide on caste and community lines,” he said.

Nashik Jain Sthanak general secretary J.C. Bhandari said the Jain community had always supported people who were struggling for their rights. “We support the Maratha community for their just rights,” Mr Bhandari said.

The police said the over 15 lakh strong morcha began from Simhasth Maidan in the Tapowan area of Panchavati at 11 am. Maratha organisations have, however, pegged the turnout at 45 lakh.