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Mumbaikars are facing a harrowing time on Wednesday due to silent protest march being held by the ‘Maratha Kranti Morcha’ to press for its various demands, including reservation. According to reports, nearly 5-8 lakh members of the politically powerful community are participating in the mammoth ‘mook morcha’ (silent procession) to demand reservations in jobs and education.
Mumbai: Mumbaikars are facing a harrowing time on Wednesday due to silent protest march being held by the ‘Maratha Kranti Morcha’ to press for its various demands, including reservation. According to reports, nearly 5-8 lakh members of the politically powerful community are participating in the mammoth ‘mook morcha’ (silent procession) to demand reservations in jobs and education.
Maratha Kranti Morcha Rally Live Updates:-
-Heavy jam reported between Mantralaya to Marine Drive; some protestors at Marine Drive.
-Schools lying between Dadar to Colaba closed due to Maratha Kranti Morcha rally
-BEST has stopped all short distance bus routes between Byculla and CST, says Ridlr Mumbai.
-Marine Drive to Nariman Point badly jammed.
-Harbor line trains running on time.
-Slow traffic outside Lower Parel Station East/Currey Road Bridge.
-Anand Nagar Thane checknaka is congested due to Maratha Kranti Morcha rally.
-According to ANI, the vehicular movement from Byculla to Azad Maidan and at some other places has been affected due to the rally.
Ahead of the rally, Mumbai Police has issued a traffic advisory, cautioning the commuters to avoid certain routes.
What is the protest all about
Lakhs of people, including men and women, students, working professionals, lawyers and doctors from the community, have joined the march.
Importantly, ‘Mumbai dabbawalas’, who run the tiffin services across the city, have decided to take the day off to participate in the morcha.
Nearly 450 schools and junior colleges across south Mumbai will remain shut today. The announcement was made by Education Minister Vinod Tawde in the State Assembly, following which a circular was issued by the deputy director of school education, Mumbai.
“Maratha Kranti Morcha rally has been organised on August 9, 2017 in Mumbai, due to which traffic snarls are likely to occur. There are chances of schools buses getting stuck in these traffic snarls, thus inconveniencing school students. Hence, it is decided that school en route Maratha Kranti Morcha must remain closed,” the circular reads.
Meanwhile, the Central Railway has made special arrangements for commuters.
The protest march is being held by the Maratha Kranti Morcha to press for their demands, including punishment for culprits in Kopardi rape and murder case, quota in education and government jobs, Amendment in SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) to stop its misuse, loan waiver to farmers to curb suicides, and guaranteed rate for agricultural produce.
The Kopardi rape and murder case, which was equated with the Nirbhaya case of Delhi in view of the grisly brutality involved, happened on July 13, 2016 evening at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district.
The girl went missing for a few hours, after which her mutilated, blood-splattered body was found under a tree in a field.
The crime sent shock waves through social and political circles and led to a ruckus in the Maharashtra legislature for two days during its monsoon session in July.
The rally, is being organised by the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella organisation of several Maratha groups, will organise the event.
