Reservation row: Silent protest march by Marathas in Nashik today

Pic courtsey: DNA

Nashik: Members of the Maratha community will on Saturday take out a silent `kranti morcha` here seeking reservations in educational institutes and government jobs.

The community, pre-dominant in Maharashtra politics, has held similar protests in several districts of Maharashtra over last one month.

The protests began following the rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district two months back.

The victim girl was a Maratha, while the culprits were Dalits.

According to the organisers, nearly 15-20 lakh people are expected to take part in the morcha that will begin from Tapovan here today and traverse through Panchavati karanja, Victoria bridge, Ravivar Peth, Tilak road, MG road and end at the District Collectorate office.

The city police have already made arrangements for diverting vehicular traffic using ring routes and are also sealing some routes by created "no vehicle zones" in view of the massive morcha. Also, an adequate police force has been deployed for the purpose.

Earlier, the Maratha rallies in Navi Mumbai, Akola, Latur and Nanded drew huge crowds.

The community leaders have been demanding scrapping of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act), saying that it is grossly misused, and also reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs.

(With PTI inputs)