Maharashtra bandh: Security beefed up, schools and colleges remain open

All departments and affiliated colleges of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad will remain closed today.

Maratha Bandh : Security has been beefed up in Maharashtra as Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella body of Maratha groups has called for a state-wide bandh on Thursday over reservation issue.

Addressing the media, a leader of the Sakal Maratha Samaj, Amol Jadhavrao said that the state-wide bandh would be observed in a peaceful manner from 8 am to 6 pm. However, the bandh will not be observed in the Navi Mumbai.

ALSO READ: State scan: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis up against Maratha challenge

"We have called for a state-wide bandh on August 9. The bandh will not be observed in Navi Mumbai, due to some sensitive issue. Essential services, schools and colleges have been excluded from the bandh called by us," Jadhavrao said.

He also urged the community members to not commit suicide over the issue and maintain their calm.

Meanwhile, police officials have also been deployed across the state to contain any unpleasant situation. "Adequate police deployment has been done to ensure peaceful bandh," Manjunath Shinghe, Mumbai Police PRO said.

All departments and affiliated colleges of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad will remain closed today in view of the bandh.

The Maratha community has been agitating across the state demanding reservation in government jobs and education. Last month, Maratha Kranti Morcha had taken to streets to press for the community's demand for reservation. Some of its members had also committed suicide during the protest.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured that his government will provide reservation to Marthas in accordance with law.

Article Source BS

Nitin Gadkari asks 'where are the jobs', Rahul Gandhi says 'we told you so'

Speaking on Maratha agitation, Gadkari offered mild criticism of the way Marathas, who are seeking reservation and affirmative action in Maharashtra, were conducting their agitation.

The law of unintended consequences intervened when Union Minister of roads and generally considered one of the better ministers in the government, Nitin Gadkari made an unguarded observation and the Congress led by party president Rahul Gandhi eagerly seized on it, causing some embarrassment to the government.

Speaking in Pune on the Maratha agitation, Gadkari, himself an upper caste Brahmin, offered mild criticism of the way Marathas, who are seeking reservation and affirmative action in Maharashtra, were conducting their agitation. “Let's assume the reservation is given. But there are no jobs. Because in banks, the jobs have shrunk because of IT. Government recruitment is frozen. Where are the jobs?” Gadkari had said.

What he possibly meant was that the Maratha agitation for government jobs was a non-starter. But Rahul Gandhi took up the refrain, adding that that is exactly what the Congress was saying: That there are no jobs. “Excellent question, Gadkari ji. Every Indian is asking the same question” Gandhi tweeted on Monday.

ALSO READ: Where are the jobs? Reservation will not guarantee employment: Gadkari

Earlier, Gadkari while addressing the quota system said, “The problem with the quota is that backwardness is becoming a political interest. Everyone says I am backward. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Brahmins are strong. They dominate politics. (And) They say they are backward," the senior BJP leader said.

“One school of thought is that a poor is a poor, he has no caste, creed or language. Whatever may be the religion — the Muslim, the Hindu or the Maratha (a caste), in all communities there is one section which has no clothes to wear, no food to eat.

"One school of thought also is (that) we must also consider the poorest of the poor section in every community," he said.

This is a "socio-economic thinking" and it must not be politicised, the Union Minister said. Maintaining that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was trying to resolve the Maratha quota demand by holding talks, Gadkari urged people to maintain peace.

"Responsible political parties must not add fuel to the fire," he added.

Article Source BS