Maratha reservations protests: Police resorts to lathi cost as protesters pelt stones

On 1st September 2023, Maharashtra Police lathi-charged protesters who have been on a quick unto dying for his or her demand of the Maratha reservation. The incident came about within the Antarawali Sarati village within the Jalna district of Maharashtra. The incident has evoked sharp reactions throughout the state. Some autos have been set on hearth on the Dhule-Solapur freeway. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, stones have been pelted at three to 4 locations and buses have been vandalised. An try was additionally made to set a bus on hearth at Sambhajinagar Bus Depot. As varied political leaders and ministers have made totally different remarks about this incident, Sharad Pawar is about to go to the Antarawali Sarati village on 2nd September 2023.

Maratha Morcha coordinator Manoj Jarange Patil and 10 others sat on a protest demanding reservation in Antwarli Sarati village of Jalna district since August 29. The protest was within the type of a quick unto dying. The situation of starvation striker Manoj Jarange Patil was deteriorating. On Thursday, the police personnel went to the starvation strike web site and urged Manoj Jarange Patil to get admitted to the hospital. The protestors rejected the police directions and requested the police to go to in a while the subsequent day.

On Friday, 1st September 2023, the police revisited the starvation strike protest web site and tried to take Manoj Jarange Patil to the hospital. The protestors current on the web site then began pelting stones on the police and on this ruckus many police personnel have been injured. This assault by the protestors compelled the police to open lathi-charge. Some tear fuel canisters have been additionally fired. As the movies of the incident went viral on social media, the reactions have been seen in varied cities of Maharashtra. Stones have been pelted in Beed, Jalna. State Transport buses have been vandalised in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis mentioned, “The incident in Jalna is unfortunate and serious. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde himself had held talks with the hunger strikers there. The government is working seriously on the issue of the Maratha reservation. This is a matter related to the Supreme Court judgment. So it’s not an issue that will be solved in a day. The hunger strikers were told that various efforts were being made to resolve it.”

🕣 8.45pm | 1-9-2023 📍 Mumbai | रा. ८.४५ वा. | १-९-२०२३ 📍 मुंबई.

LIVE | Media interplay.#Mumbai #Maharashtra https://t.co/yzug9ybi2T

— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) September 1, 2023

Devendra Fadnavis added, “As the protesters were not ready to end their hunger strike their health was deteriorating. It is the responsibility of the government to admit any person to the hospital if his health is deteriorating. Efforts were made on Thursday to get the hunger strikers admitted to the hospital. But, the protestors told the police to come on the next day. After the police went there today (Friday), they were surrounded by the protestors and pelted with stones. Twelve police persons including officers and other policemen were injured. This has been followed by a lathi charge.”

Devendra Fadnavis mentioned, “The lathi charge has been minimal. Some tear gas canisters were also fired. Had tear gas not been fired, the police would have faced a dire situation. I had given reservations to the Maratha community when I was the chief minister. Even now, the chief minister has formed a committee. Efforts are going on to address various demands of the Maratha community. No one should take the law into their own hands. The entire matter will be investigated. Whoever is at fault, action will be taken against him. Peace should be maintained.”

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde mentioned, “It is the role of the government to provide sustainable reservation. A petition has also been filed in the court. Chandrakant Patil’s sub-committee has been holding frequent meetings. The government is working to ensure that the Maratha community gets reservation that lasts in the courts. However, a high-level inquiry will be conducted into the incident. Action will be taken against those involved.”

#जालना जिल्ह्यातील अंतरवली येथे मराठा आरक्षणासाठी सुरू असलेल्या आंदोलनातील आंदोलकांवर झालेल्या लाठीमाराची घटना अत्यंत दुर्दैवी आहे. जिल्हाधिकारी आणि पोलीस अधीक्षकांकडून या घटनेची माहिती घेतली असून चौकशीचे आदेश दिले आहेत, जनतेने शांतता राखावी.

— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) September 1, 2023

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar mentioned, “Prima facie, it appears that the Maratha protesters were lathi-charged, rubber bullets and abuse of force by the police is also seen. I assure the people of the state that a thorough, impartial investigation will be conducted into the role of the police in this regard and strict action will be taken against the guilty policemen. We have to ensure that this movement moves forward in a democratic manner while maintaining law and order.”

मराठा समाजाला आरक्षण मिळावं ही मागणी रास्त, न्याय्य मागणी आहे. या मागणीसाठी जालना जिल्ह्यातील अंबड येथे किंवा राज्यात कुठेही होणाऱ्या शांततामय आंदोलनाला आमचा, राज्यातील नागरिकांचा पाठिंबा आहे. मराठा आरक्षणाचा लढा रस्त्यावर आणि न्यायालयातही तितक्याच ताकदीनं लढण्याची आपली सगळ्यांची…

— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) September 1, 2023

Sharad Pawar has as soon as once more taken this incident as a chance to broaden the variations between the Maratha and Brahmin communities in Maharashtra. In his preliminary reactions to this incident, Sharad Pawar attacked Devendra Fadnavis with out instantly naming him. He additionally insinuated that the police motion is a mirrored image of the sentiments the house minister has for a specific group.

Sharad Pawar mentioned, “I got a call or two from Jalna and they told me what happened there. Manoj Jarange and his colleagues sat on a hunger strike. The police consulted them. Everything was going on peacefully in that discussion. However, after the discussion, an attempt was made to drive them out of the area using police force.”

Sharad Pawar added, “The protesters were severely lathi-charged. In fact, once discussed, there was no need for a lathi charge or the use of force. However, the state home minister might have suggested that if people working in such social sectors come out on the streets when their issues go unanswered, they (police) should use force.”

Sharad Pawar mentioned, “The feeling of the state home minister towards certain elements is expressed through the actions of the police. This picture has been seen in Jalna. Why to blame the police for this? The police received such instructions from the top level and they performed. This led to acrimony between the police and the youth for no reason. The entire responsibility lies with the state government and those in charge of the home department.” It is notable that Sharad Pawar will go to the starvation strike web site at present.