Nine large processions called Maratha Kranti Muk Morcha have been held in the major cities in the states.
After the huge Patel protests in Gujarat, the BJP is facing an upsurge by Marathas in Maharashtra. Rallies -- held by lakhs of people in absolute silence, have been on across the state for more than a month, said to have been triggered by the rape of a girl by Dalits in Kopardi in July.
Nine large processions -- called "Maratha Kranti Muk (silent) Morcha" have been held in the major cities in the state. Two more were held today in Solapur and Navi Mumbai. Another significant one is scheduled to be held in Ahmednagar on September 23, the district where the teen was raped and killed. And if there is no intervention by the state government, then perhaps the biggest one will be held in Mumbai in October.
What sets the Maratha rallies apart from the Jat and the Patel protests is that these rallies being led by women, who raise the issue of restoring Maratha pride by demanding death for the killers of the girl from Kopardi, measures to prevent the misuse of the Prevention of Dalit Atrocities Act and reservation for Marathas in government jobs and colleges.
The groundswell has come as a boon for the opposition, with Nationalist Congress Party's Sharad Pawar - one of the tallest Maratha leaders in the state -- rushing to support the demand to muzzle the SC/St Act, saying it was a demand that "should be looked into".
Later, when the media extensively reported his statement, he issued a clarification saying, "I did not say the Act should be scrapped but steps should be taken to prevent its misuse."
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also said, "A special session of the assembly should be called and these demands should be discussed by all parties."
But neither the NCP, the Shiv Sena or the Congress, all of which have a strong Maratha leadership, are openly backing these mass gatherings. Rather, their leaders can be seen on the sidelines of these rallies, well away from the spotlight.
While no party is forthcoming on the subject, part of the reason is seen to be that an open support can lead to a loss of votes among a crucial section, the Dalits.
One of their main demands of the rallyists is death for the three rapists and killers of the Maratha teenager in Kopardi. They also demand a change in the SC/ST Act, claiming it has become the Dalit community's tool to persecute the Marathas.
The organisers of these rallies, though, insist they are not anti-Dalit and their movement is meant at restoring the Maratha pride. A prescribed code of conduct for the participants of the procession says "this is not a movement against people of any particular community," said Mauli Pawar, a member of the organising committee.