People at Maratha Kranti Morcha protest against Kopardi rape case, in Ahmednagar on Friday. (PTI)
After holding protests in several districts across Maharashtra, members of the Maratha community will take out a silent kranti morcha in Nashik today demanding reservations in educational institutes and government jobs.
The community, pre-dominant in Maharashtra politics, has been taking out silent marches in various towns of the state over last one month, following the rape and murder of a girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district two months back. The victim girl was a Maratha, while the culprits were Dalits.
According to the organisers, nearly 15-20 lakh people are expected to take part in the morcha that will begin at 10 am from Tapovan in Nashik today and traverse through Panchavati karanja, Victoria bridge, Ravivar Peth, Tilak road, M G road and end at the District Collectorate office.
City police has already made arrangements for diverting vehicular traffic using ring routes and are also sealing some routes by created "no vehicle zones" in view of the massive morcha. Also, adequate police force has been deployed for the purpose.
Earlier, the Maratha rallies in Navi Mumbai, Akola, Latur and Nanded drew huge crowds.
The community leaders have been demanding scrapping of the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act), saying that it is grossly misused, and also reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs.