Maratha protest maynothitcity today

While a city group wants a bandh, other wants sitin protest; their differences may dilute impact of stir

MUMBAI: While state-level co-ordinators of the Maratha agitation have called for a Maharashtra bandh on Thursday, the split in the two main protesting factions in the city over its execution may ensure Mumbai doesn’t feel the heat.

One of the groups of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MMK) has called for a sit-in outside the suburban collector’s office at Bandra, while another faction has announced a bandh demanding 16% reservation for the community in education and government jobs. The faction that has given the call for a bandh clarified the shutdown will be non-violent. The group’s leaders said essential services such as supply of milk, vegetables, and schools and colleges will be exempted.

Amol Jadhavrao, who is leading the splinter group, said they will shut down the city for 24 hours. “We will observe a peaceful Mumbai bandh. We want the state to give the assurance [of reservation and stay on recruitment drive] in writing.”

Fewer than 40 people had turned up for Jadhavrao’s group’s ‘jail bharo’ last week.

Virendra Pawar, who leads the other MMK faction, said, “We want a peaceful protest as we have seen how some miscreants resorted to violence in Navi Mumbai and Chakan last month. Some of us want aggressive protests. We don’t want to support them.”

Pawar’s faction will hold a sit-in at the collectorate office at 11am and conclude it in two hours after submitting their memorandum to the collector.

While different factions of Maratha outfits will be holding protests, Left-affiliated outfits will also take out a protest march in the city against the Central government’s policies.

Ahead of Thursday’s protests, state chief secretary DK Jain reviewed the security situation with home secretary, Mumbai police commissioner, director general of police and transport secretary.

The central railway will deploy 500 railway protection force officials and 200 officials from Government Railway Police (GRP) at troubled spots namely Igatpuri, Kasara, Kalyan, Kurla, Thane, Ghansoli, Vashi and Ghatkopar. “We will not let protesters enter the railway premises,” said Sachin Bhalode, senior divisional security commissioner, central railway. The western railway has given riot gears to its officials, said Anup Shukla, senior divisional security commissioner, western railway. While Pune, Aurangabad, Latur and Ahmednagar units of the Maratha outfit will go opt for the bandh, sit-ins will be held at Nashik, Sangli and Solapur. NAVI MUMBAI : Even as the Navi Mumbai and Panvel units of Sakal Maratha Morcha (SMM) have declared that there will be no bandh or agitation in the region on August 9, Navi Mumbai police are taking no chances.

The previous agitation on July 25 had led to massive damage in the area. Ankush Kadam, Navi Mumbai coordinator of SMM, said, “We have informed the police that there will be no bandh in the city.” Maratha leader MLC Narendra Patil said, “We don’t want anti-social elements to take advantage of the agitation.”

Navi Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Kumar said, “We have deputed six deputy commissioners of police, eight assistant commissioners of police, 100 police officers and 1,500 personnel. In case of any untoward incident, residents can call 27574928, 27561099 and 27572887.”