Maratha Kranti Morcha

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Maratha Kranti Morcha
Maratha Kranti Morcha public nagar.jpg
Native name मराठा क्रांती मोर्चा
LocationWorldwide
Also known asमराठा क्रांती (मूक) मोर्चा
Organised by Maratha Community

The Maratha Kranti Morcha, loosely translated as "Maratha revolutionary demonstration" in the Marathi language, was a series of silent and pragmatic protests organized by the Maratha community in various cities across India, and in overseas diaspora communities. Other groups, such as Muslims and other religious minorities, also supported the Morcha. [1] The impetus for the rallies was the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Kopardi village, Maharashtra, on 13 July 2016. [2] The protesters demanded the death sentence for the rapists. The Maratha caste dominate the power and cultural structure in Maharashtra due to the size of their population. [3]

Contents

The rallies featured no leaders and no slogans. Millions of people from across Maharashtra came together to protest, and initially no harm was done to any public or private property until January 2017, when a few instances of violence were noted. [4]

The demand for reservations in educational positions and government jobs were also a part of these protests. At the time, the Bombay High Court had recently upheld the reservations granted to the Maratha community, but also mentioned that the percentage of quotas given wasn't justifiable. [5] Later, the Supreme Court quashed the Maratha community reservations. [6] A large percentage of Marathis are farmers, and the community had been severely affected by droughts and degraded arable land. Due to the lack of reservations, unemployment had become a major problem in the Maratha community. Some castes within the Maratha community, known as Kunbi, did receive the benefits of reservations provided to the Other Backward Class category; however, most people were alleged to have lost their benefits.

2016 demands

Influencing factors

Judicial

Silent protests

The Maratha Kranti Morcha carried out its largest silent protest in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, on 9 August 2017. Around half a million members of the Maratha community from across the state gathered in Mumbai. The protest started from Jijamata Zoo Byculla and culminated at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. Schools, junior colleges, and about 450 institutes in South Mumbai remained shut. Mumbai's famed Dabbawalas took the day off to participate in the morcha. [41]

During the silent protest, leaders from the Maratha community also warned that they would switch to violent tactics after two weeks if state authorities did not act on their demands. [42]

2023

Manoj Jarange-Patil, a Maratha quota activist, has been a prominent figure in the Maratha Community's fight for reservation in Maharashtra. He is leading multiple agitations and protests, including dharna and hunger strikes. [43]

Violence

January 2017

Road blockades (chakka jams) were held on 31 January 2017 to gather momentum and mount pressure on the state government before the community’s silent rally scheduled in Mumbai on 6 March 2017.

31 January 2017 – Mumbai [44] and across Maharashtra [45]

July 2018

On 23 July 2018, a Maratha Kranti Morcha activist committed suicide; the protesters refuse to collect the body and demanded the resignation of Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Kakasaheb Shinde-Patil, aged 28 committed suicide by jumping into the Godavari River during agitations at the village of Kaygaon Toka in the Gangapur taluka of Aurangabad District. The protesters blamed the district administration for not deploying boats and lifeguards despite being forewarned about the agitations. [48]

On 24 July 2018, protests turned violent; protesters attacked police officers and torched buses, police vehicles, and private cars. [49]

25 July 2018 – Mumbai, [50] Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Thane, Kalyan, Palghar, Raigad

August 2018

Maratha groups announced a shutdown across Maharashtra on August Kranti Day 2018 to intensify agitation for reservations. August Kranti Day is celebrated annually on 9 August. The Marathas launched a non-cooperation movement against the Government of Maharashtra and the Government of India. The non-cooperation movement covers non-payment of taxes to government and local bodies until reservations are implemented. [66] [67]

Impacts

After continuously growing protests in each city and millions of people's participation in each Maratha Kranti Morcha, on 13 October 2016 the Government of Maharashtra took the decisions to: [68] and

As the Bombay high court had stayed the 16% reservation granted to Marathas in government jobs and educational positions on the grounds that the data used by the government was faulty, the Government of Maharashtra on 5 December 2016 filed a 2,800-page affidavit to justify the reservations for Marathas as legal and show that it did not violate constitutional provisions. The affidavit contained documents substantiating the claim that the community is socially and educationally backward. [69]

General Election 2024

The threat to the BJP’s hegemony is dire, as caste assertion threatens to break through the Hindutva patina. [70]

The impact of the Maratha agitation is such that two MPs from Shinde’s Shiv Sena – Hemant Patil and Hemant Godse – announced their resignation from the Lok Sabha in support of the protesters and their demand. BJP MPs openly extended his support to the Maratha community. [71] [72] [73]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Muslim groups support rally". indianexpress.com. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  2. ↑ "Girl brutally gangraped, body found in mutilated state". firstpost.com. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  3. ↑ "Silent Storm". thehindu.com. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  4. ↑ "औरंगाबादेत चक्काजामला हिंसक वळण, आंदोलकांची पोलिसांवर दगडफेक" [Violent turn to Chakkajam in Aurangabad, protestors stabbed at police]. abpmajha.abplive.in (in Marathi). 31 January 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  5. ↑ Madhukalya, Anwesha (27 June 2019). "Maratha reservation: Bombay High Court upholds quota but says 16% not justified". India Today. Business Today. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  6. ↑ Rajagopal, Krishnadas (5 May 2021). "Supreme Court declares Maratha quota law unconstitutional". The Hindu.
  7. ↑ Staff Reporter (29 September 2016). "अपंग मुलीवर बलात्कार करून अॅट्रॉसिटीची धमकी". सकाळ (in Marathi). Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  8. ↑ India, PTI (7 October 2016). "Police File Charge Sheet in Kopardi Gangrape-Murder Case". NDTV.com. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  9. ↑ Staff Reporter (20 October 2016). "Trial in Kopardi rape and murder case begins". PTI News. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "Kopardi rape and murder case: 3 convicts get death sentence". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Press Trust of India. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  11. ↑ India, PTI (29 November 2017). "Kopardi rape and murder case: 3 convicts get death sentence". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  12. ↑ India, Staff (29 November 2017). "Kopardi case: Three get death for India teen's rape and murder". bbc.com. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  13. ↑ Shelke, Gitesh (10 September 2023). "Kopardi rape and murder case convict found dead inside Pune's Yerawada Jail". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Maratha kranti morcha, Aurangabad on YouTube
  15. ↑ शेळके, गोविंद (8 August 2016). "बीडमध्ये मराठा समाजाचा विराट मोर्चा". ABP माझा (in Marathi). Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  16. ↑ Staff Reporter (21 September 2016). "Marathas bring rally to Mumbai's doorsteps". The Hindu. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  17. ↑ Staff Reporter (22 September 2016). "Marathas bring rally to Mumbai's doorstep". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  18. ↑ Banerjee, Shoumojit (24 September 2016). "Marathas stage massive rally in Ahmednagar". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
  19. ↑ Staff Reporter (26 September 2016). "Maratha Kranti Morcha holds silent march in Pune". Firstpost. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  20. ↑ Deshpande, Alok (25 September 2016). "The monsoon of their discontent". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  21. 1 2 Dahat, Pavan (26 September 2016). "Two rallies held in Vidarbha". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  22. ↑ Jai Maharashtra News (26 September 2016), Maratha Morcha in Russia , retrieved 15 October 2016
  23. ↑ Banerjee, Shoumojit (27 September 2016). "Maratha 'silent march' in Sangli passes peacefully". The Hindu. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  24. ↑ Staff Reporter (28 September 2016). "Maratha 'silent march' in Sangli passes peacefully". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  25. ↑ "Maratha agitation: Community holds silent march in Dhule". Firstpost. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  26. ↑ "हैदराबादला मराठा मोर्चा- हजारो उतरले रस्त्यावर" . Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  27. ↑ Mane, Shrimant (10 October 2016). "मराठा क्रांती मोर्चा असाही...!". सकाळ (in Marathi). Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  28. ↑ सोनवणे, अविनाश (9 October 2016). "मराठा मोर्चाचं वादळ आता परराज्यात, दमणमधील मराठी भाषिक रस्त्यावर". ABP माझा (in Marathi). Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  29. ↑ Staff Reporter (10 October 2016). "बदलापूरमध्ये भव्य मराठा मोर्चा". ZEE २४ तास (in Marathi). Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  30. ↑ Staff Reporter (9 October 2016). "बदलापूरात मराठा क्रांती मूक मोर्चाला उदंड प्रतिसाद". EENADU INDIA आपली मराठी (in Marathi). Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  31. ↑ Chari, Mridula (16 October 2016). "The rumbling sound of silence: 25 lakh gather for Maratha rally in Kolhapur". Scroll.in. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  32. ↑ Staff Reporter (16 October 2016). "ठाण्यात मराठा सामाज्याचा आक्रोश". आवाज News Line (in Marathi). Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  33. ↑ PTI, Reporter (16 October 2016). "Maratha agitation: Silent march in Thane, a prelude to Mumbai's rally". Firstpost. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  34. ↑ Staff Reporter (16 October 2016). "चिपळुणातील मराठा मोर्चाने गर्दीचा उच्चांक". सकाळ eSakal.com (in Marathi). Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  35. ↑ "मराठा मूकमोर्चाचं वादळ सातासमुद्रापार, अमेरिकेतही मराठा मोर्चा". ABP Majha. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  36. ↑ Staff Reporter (19 October 2016). "चंद्रपुरात मराठा मूकमोर्चाचा हुंकार". ABP माझा (in Marathi). Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  37. ↑ Staff Reporter (19 October 2016). "कर्नाटकच्या बिदरमध्ये मराठा क्रांती मोर्चाचा एल्गार". ABP माझा (in Marathi). Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  38. ↑ FP Staff (27 May 2017). "Maratha Kranti Morcha to hold 'biggest rally' in Mumbai on 9 August, marking a year of silent protests". Firstpost. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  39. ↑ Staff Reporter (6 August 2017). "Maratha Kranti Morcha will be held on August 9". The Asian Age. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  40. ↑ Staff Reporter (10 August 2017). "Maratha Kranti Morcha". Yahoo News Website. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  41. ↑ ServiceStaff, News (27 May 2017). "Today, dabbawalas take a day off". The Indian Express. Retrieved 9 August 2017.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  42. ↑ More, Manoj (9 August 2017). "Last silent Maratha march today, leaders warn of aggressive stir if CM Devendra Fadnavis fails to act". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  43. ↑ Bende, Anurag (1 November 2023). "Who is Manoj Jarange, man in Maratha quota spotlight". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  44. ↑ Web Desk, FPJ (31 January 2017). "Chakka Jam across Maharashtra call by Maratha group, 2 arrested". The Free Press Journal. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  45. ↑ Shaikh, Mohammed Uzair (31 January 2017). "Chakka Jam Across Maharashtra called by Maratha Groups: Statewide protest against Kopardi gangrape case on 31st January". India.com. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  46. ↑ केंडे, कृष्णा (31 January 2017). "औरंगाबादेत चक्काजामला हिंसक वळण, आंदोलकांची पोलिसांवर दगडफेक". ABP माझा (in Marathi). Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  47. ↑ Web Team, ABP Maza (31 January 2017). "चक्काजाम आंदोलनात कुठे काय घडलं?". ABP माझा (in Marathi). Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  48. ↑ Kulkarni, Dhaval (23 July 2018). "Maratha Kranti Morcha activist commits suicide; protestors refuse to take body, demands CM Fadnavis' resignation". DNA. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  49. ↑ Staff Reporter (25 July 2018). "Maharashtra Bandh". The Indian Express. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  50. ↑ Staff Reporter (23 July 2018). "मराठा क्रांती मोर्चाकडून बुधवारी महाराष्ट्र बंदची हाक?". ऑनलाइन लोकमत (in Marathi). Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  51. ↑ Staff Reporter (25 July 2018). "Maratha Protest: आणखी एका आंदोलकाचा मृत्यू". महाराष्ट्र टाइम्स (in Marathi). Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  52. ↑ Majumder, Soumyajit (30 July 2018). "Man Commits Suicide Over Quota Demand". NDTV. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  53. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "Pramod Jaising Hore committed suicide". ZEE News. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  54. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "मराठा आरक्षण : प्रमोद पाटील". लोकसत्ता (in Marathi). Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  55. ↑ "चाकणमधील स्थिती". महाराष्ट्र टाइम्स (in Marathi). 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  56. ↑ Panigrahi, Debasish (27 July 2018). "Protesters damage 160 private vehicles". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  57. ↑ Staff Reporter (26 July 2018). "Mumbai Bandh". Mid-Day. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  58. ↑ Staff Reporter (24 July 2018). "2 fire brigade vehicles torched". DNA. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  59. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "16 vehicles torched". ZEE News. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  60. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "बसेसची जाळपोळ". महाराष्ट्र टाइम्स (in Marathi). Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  61. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "चाकणमधील स्थिती". महाराष्ट्र टाइम्स (in Marathi). Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  62. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "मराठा आरक्षण आंदोलनाने चाकण पेटले". महाराष्ट्र टाइम्स (in Marathi). Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  63. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "मराठा आंदोलनाला हिंसक वळण". महाराष्ट्र टाइम्स (in Marathi). Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  64. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "आंदोलकांनी अनेक एसटी गाड्यांसह पीएमपीच्या बसेसची जाळपोळ करीत पुणे-नाशिक महामार्ग रोखून धरला". लोकसत्ता (in Marathi). Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  65. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "सोलापूरात पोलीस उपायुक्तांची गाडी फोडली". लोकसत्ता (in Marathi). Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  66. ↑ Kulkarni, Dhaval (29 July 2018). "Maratha Kranti Morcha: Now, Maratha protestors to boycott paying taxes". DNA. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  67. ↑ Staff Reporter (30 July 2018). "मुख्यमंत्र्यांची विनंती परळीतील आंदोलकांनी फेटाळली". लोकसत्ता (in Marathi). Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  68. ↑ Jog, Sanjay (14 October 2016). "Maharashtra extends educational subsidies for poor across castes". Business Standard. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  69. ↑ Deshpande, Swati (6 December 2016). "Maharashtra files 2,800-page affidavit to justify Maratha reservation". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  70. ↑ Analysis, The Wire (8 September 2023). "4.27 Reasons Why the BJP is Panicky About Caste Consciousness". The Wire. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  71. ↑ Varma, Gyan (2 November 2023). "As Maratha quota row rages on, pressure mounts on BJP for caste census". The Federal. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  72. ↑ Akhef, Mohammed (30 October 2023). "Two Shiv Sena & BJP MPs openly back call for Maratha quota". Times of India. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  73. ↑ ESHWAR (31 October 2023). "NCP MLA's Home Torched, MPs Resign: Key Developments as Maratha Protests Flare". The Quint. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
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