Amid the ongoing agitation over Maratha reservation, NCP MLA Prakash Solanke's house was set on fire by angry protesters in Beed district. According to reports, the protesters, angered by Solanke's comments on pro-Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, also damaged several vehicles parked outside the NCP leader's house.
Solanke, who was at home during the attack, confirmed that none of his family members or staff were injured. “We are all safe but there is huge loss of property,” he told ANI.
The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) suspended its services in nine districts in the Marathwada region after stone-pelting protesters targeted the buses in several places, Indian Express reported.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appealed for peace and said Maratha activist Jarange Patil must understand what turn this protest is taking. “It is going in the wrong direction,” he said.
The Maratha quota agitation turned violent as Jarange Patil, who has been sitting on an indefinite fast, refused to get a health check-up done on Monday. The fast could impact his vital organs and parameters, Jalna's acting civil surgeon Dr Pratap Ghodke told media on Monday. "We have approached his family doctor as well as other doctors in Antarwali Sarati. Today, the villagers are going to request Jarange to take medical treatment and continue his hunger strike," he added.
Jarange Patil briefly called off his strike after meeting CM Shinde in October and setting a deadline to meet the community's demands. The Maratha community has been demanding reservation under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in government jobs and education.The state government, however, has been in a difficult spot over the demand as it faces legal scrutiny. The Supreme Court struck down the reservation which was earlier upheld by the Bombay High Court.
#WATCH | Beed, Maharashtra: Maratha reservation agitators vandalised and set the residence of NCP MLA Prakash Solanke on fire. pic.twitter.com/8uAfmGbNCI
— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2023
Patil, who began the second phase of his indefinite fast on October 25, has warned that fast-unto-death protests will begin in Maharashtra's villages if the government fails to meet their demands.
The Shinde government has set up a committee, headed by retired judge Sandeep Shinde, to submit a report on how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community.
