In Ghatkopar, agitators make their voices heard Agitators serve food to vehicle owners

MUMBAI:

Maratha agitators held a sit-in at Ghatkopar's Bhatwadi Nagar on Thursday. Protesters gathered in a large numbers and raised slogans against the Devendra Fadnavis-led govt. One of the protesters, Amol Matale, expressed his disappointment at the government's failure to provide reservation to Marathas. He said "Reservation is the only hope for us. Unlike other communities who have quota benefits, Maratha youths are far more deprived of opportunities, when it comes to government jobs or admissions in good colleges. If reservation is provided, just as for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes (OBC), then opportunities will also open up for Marathas." Another agitator, 43-year-old Eknath Dangat, said in their community too there were economically weak families. Since there are no benefits like reservation they were forced to pay hefty fees. At Ghatkopar, several shops were closed to avoid any untoward situation. The Bhatwadi Nagar sit-in protest started at 9.30am and continued till 1 pm. Thereafter, police detained protesters and later released them. In Yeotmal, protesters blockaded the NagpurBor-Tuljapur highway, connecting Vidarbha to Marathwada, from early morning. By afternoon, there was a huge line of trucks, state transport buses and private vehicles on the highway. Morcha protesters invited commuters and truck drivers to have lunch, serving them food on the road, eliciting smiles from the stranded public.