The ongoing agitation for reservation for the Maratha community culminated in violence and arson on Monday as quota protesters torched and vandalized houses or offices of three MLAs, attacked a town hall and disrupted road traffic in Maharashtra, police said.
Houses of two MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were torched while the office of another legislator of the ruling BJP was vandalized by protesters, they said, adding that there were no casualties.
The incidents of violence and arson were reported from Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts in central Maharashtra even as Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange continued his indefinite fast in support of the reservation demand in a village in Jalna district.
His condition worsened on the sixth day of the fast when he collapsed on stage, prompting those on the scene to come to his aid. At their request, he took a few sips of water. Amid the unrest, Jarange called for peace and said violent incidents will tarnish the image of their protest.
The residence of NCP MLA Solanke in Majalgaon town of Beed district was set on fire and stones hurled at it by a group of quota agitators late in the morning, police said.
The group also set fire to a car parked at Solanke’s residence after an audio clip of the MLA, in which he allegedly spoke about the Maratha quota agitation and made a veiled comment about fasting quota activist Jarange, went viral .
It is not clear whether the Majalgaon MLA, who belongs to the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was present at the house at the time of the incident that took place around 11 am.
“The incident took place after an audio clip of MLA Solanke on the Maratha reservation issue went viral. A bandh was called locally. The MLA’s house and a car were set on fire by some people and stones were also hurled,” an official told PTI.
In the audio clip, Solanke is reportedly heard saying that “the issue (the demand for reservations and the 40-day ultimatum to the government for its implementation by October 24) has become a child’s play.
“The person, who has not even contested a gram panchayat election, has become a smart person today,” he said in an apparent dig at Jarange.
Solanke told a news channel that he was in Majalgaon when the incident took place.
“Agitators surrounded my home from all sides and no one was in a mood to listen. Stones were thrown at my house and vehicles were also set on fire. I support the demand for Maratha reservation. I have won the elections four times with the help of the Maratha community and I am a Maratha MLA,” he said.
After the arson at the legislator’s house, a group of Maratha reservation activists dispersed from there and later set fire to and vandalized the first floor of the Majalgaon Municipal Hall, another police official said.
The group, armed with wooden sticks and stones, first damaged the windows of the building. The vandals went to the first floor of the building and set it on fire, burning down the furniture there, the official said.
Fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames, he said, adding that there were no casualties.
Beed Superintendent of Police Nand Kumar Thakur said, “The mob that set fire to Prakash Solanke’s residence later moved to Majalgaon Municipal Council. They set fire to the first floor of the Municipal Building. Police teams who quickly reached the civic office retrieved people got out well in time so that no one was injured.”
A company of the State Reserve Police Force (about 100 men) has been requisitioned to maintain law and order in Beed district, he said.
“Pro-quota protests are currently underway at three to four locations in Beed district,” Thakur told PTI.
Police are scanning the CCTV footage of the area to identify the persons involved in torching the town hall and a process has been initiated to register a crime against them, he said.
Meanwhile, a group of Maratha quota activists stormed into the residential buildings and office of NCP MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar in Beed town and set them on fire in the evening, another official said.
Fire personnel rushed to the spot to douse the flames, he said.
The police swung into action and dispersed the crowd that had gathered outside the MLA’s residence and office, the official said.
A hotel near Beed town was set on fire by the Maratha activists. They also blocked a stretch of the busy Samruddhi Expressway at Jalna, causing heavy traffic jam on the Mumbai-bound carriageway, he said.
In a separate incident, protesters blocked the Solapur-Akkalkot highway by placing burning tires on the road, the official said.
Maratha quota supporters, armed with wooden sticks, vandalized the office of BJP MLA Prashant Bamb at Gangapur in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, police said.
They damaged windows and furniture in the office of the ruling party lawmaker, they said, adding that two people were being held for questioning.
Addressing the media at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, where his fast entered its sixth day on Monday, Jarange urged protesters to refrain from violence and arson.
The activist expressed concern over the recent incidents of violence and arson, stressing that such actions tarnish the image of their protest.
Jarange claimed he suspected the involvement of individuals with vested interests, possibly those in positions of power, in the violent incidents.
“I firmly believe that the common Maratha people are not behind these acts of violence. It is my sincere request to all protesters: refrain from any form of violence or arson. Such actions only play into the hands of those who are trying to discredit our movement,” he said. said.
Jarange tried to distance himself from demonstrators who were guilty of violence.
“From now on, I will not support any form of arson or violence. If these activities continue, I will follow my own course,” he warned without elaborating.
The activist urged the members of the Maratha community to abstain from political influence, claiming that involving politicians in the movement could dilute their real cause.
“Violence does not bring justice. Our strength lies in our unity and peaceful demonstrations. We can reach the Maratha sanctuary through peaceful means,” he noted.
Members of the Maratha community have staged protests in various parts of the state, seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the OBC category.
The unrest intensified after Jarange launched an indefinite fast on October 25 as part of the second phase of the unrest. He was on hunger strike from August 29 to September 14 and stopped his agitation after the government promised to investigate his quota demand.
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