NASHIK :
On behalf of Nashik District Sakal Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), a token strike was organised in front of the District Collector’s Office on Monday demanding fast track solution to the issue of Maratha reservation.
The Marathas allege that the state government is filing criminal cases against the Maratha Kranti Morcha and conspiring to end the Maratha reservation movement.
The objective of the sit-in agitation was to compel state government to make immediate efforts to lift the ban on Maratha reservation and to pay serious attention to the demands of the Maratha community.
While conducting the stir peacefully, some senior police officers of the city police commissionerate are filing cases against the protesters, it alleged.
Doubts are being raised about the role of the government in tackling the Maratha reservation agitation. The protesters warned that the agitation could not be crushed by force.
The protesters also warned that if the government tries to stifle the sentiments of the Maratha community again, the agitation of Kranti Morcha will be intensified in the future.
On the occasion, a memorandum was given to the district administration demanding that the reservation should be given and pending demands should be approved immediately.
Activists Karan Gaikar, Adv. Shivaji Sahane, Tushar Jagtap, Ganesh Kadam, Chetan Shelar, Santosh Malode, Jitendra Solanke, Sachin Pawar and many other Maratha coordinators were present.
Key demands:
1) In order to avoid the loss of Maratha students who have applied for academic admission from SEBC category, the State
* Increase the number of seats for Maratha students in the vocational and non-vocational courses by 12%.
* Police and other recruitments should be postponed till reservation to Maratha is confirmed.
* Stay MPSC exams till the issue is solved.
* Enact a separate law in Parliament to protect the Maratha reservation
* Separate reservation for Maratha community, and not in EWS.
* Immediate appointments and benefits should be given to the candidates who have applied through the SEBC category in the educational admission and recruitment process.
* Constitution of a separate bench in Supreme Court.
* Separate vasatigrihas for Maratha students
* The trial of the accused in the Kopardi case should be fast tracked.
