Silent Maratha Morcha held in Nagpur, descendants of Shivaji among participants

Nagpur: The Marathas today took out a ‘silent march’ as part of their statewide mobilisation to press for demands like reservation in jobs and education for their community. The community is also seeking action against misuse of SC/ST Atrocities Act 1989. It has also denounced the brutal rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district. [caption id=“attachment_3014358” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. IBN-Lokmat[/caption] After the Sakal Maratha Samaj, which organised the protest march here, allegedly decided to go alone excluding the Kunbis from the agitation, the Marathas turned out in large numbers to showcase their strength. The march, however, began late by an hour from the historic Reshimbagh ground in South-eastern part of the city. A bust of Maratha warrier Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was placed on the small dais and garlanded on the occasion. Sporting saffron caps and holding banners, hundereds of community members including direct discendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from Satara gathered for the march. Shrimant Shivrajsingh Raje Bhosale, Kalpitrape Bhonsale, Rutujaraje Bhonsale, Rajendrra Singh Bhonsale and Shrimant Janojiraje Bhonsale were among those who participated in the protest. A member of erstwhile royal family Raje Mudhoji Bhonsale, former MP and staunch pro Vidarbha leader Jambuwantrao Dhote, former Minister and former president of Pradesh Congress Committee, Ranjeet Deshmukh, former MLA Sunil Shinde, former Vice Chancellor of PDKV (Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth), Dr Shrad Nimbalkar were also present. The morcha culminated at Kasturchand Park ground, and later five girls from community submitted a memorandum to the District Collector. The Sakal Maratha-Kunbi Samaj has announced 14 December as the date for its march.