Maharashtra bandh Day 2 Live updates: Maratha Kranti Morcha calls off Mumbai bandh over demand in govt jobs, education

Maharashtra police shoots tear gas on Maratha Kranti Morcha's protesters who were blocking the Mumbai-Pune Highway in Kalamboli over demand for reservation in govt jobs and education, earlier today. The organisation has called off Mumbai Bandh now.

Harshvardhan Jadhav, Shiv Sena MLA from Kannad (Aurangabad) constituency, has offered his resignation to Vidhan Sabha speaker via mail over Maratha Reservation issue. He has left for Mumbai and will be giving a physical copy to Vidhansabha speaker.

There's no question of us taking political benefit. Till when you'll deceive people in name of discussions? The BJP and the Shiv Sena are taking political benefits by asking people to vote in their favour and then they'll help: Congress' Ashok Chavan on Maharashtra CM's statement

Train services between Thane and Vashi on Trans-Harbour line, that were stalled due to Maratha Kranti Morcha's protest over demand for Reservation in government jobs and education, resumed after the organisation called off their protest.

The Maratha quota stir had turned violent after clashes broke out between two groups in Udgir in Latur district today. The clashes erupted after protesting Maratha Kranti Morcha workers allegedly forced people to shut down their shops and overturned a vegetable cart. Meanwhile, another group requested the shopkeepers with their folded hands to close their shops in Bandra.

Union Minister and Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale backed the protesters but appealed to them to raise their voice peacefully. "I support the demand for Maratha reservation. I appeal to the protesters to protest peacefully. We need to make a law in Parliament and raise reservation cap from 50% to 75%," he said on Wednesday. 

Maratha Kranti Morcha has called off the bandh in Mumbai. They were protesting over the demand for Maratha Reservation in government jobs and education. Earlier in the day, miscreants had pelted stones and set a bus ablaze in Mankhurd during the agitation. 

Mumbai: Miscreants pelted stones & set a bus ablaze in Mankhurd during #MarathaQuotaStir. Fire has now been extinguished by fire tenders. pic.twitter.com/HA3jP9t05L

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

Maharashtra Bandh: Train, traffic movement affected after protests turn violent; BEST buses partially suspends services

#MarathaReservation protests: Workers of #MarathaKrantiMorcha block a local train in Thane pic.twitter.com/cotagpKpzp

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

Clashes break out between two groups in Udgir in Latur district of Maharashtra when one group was forcibly trying to get people to shut shops and overturned a vegetable cart while attempting to enforce Maharashtra bandh. Police is on the spot and situation is contained: ANI News

Clashes break out between two groups in Udgir in Latur district of Maharashtra when one group was forcibly trying to get people to shut shops and overturned a vegetable cart while attempting to enforce Maharashtra bandh. Police is on the spot and situation is contained pic.twitter.com/uEOqPDx0As

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

#MarathaReservation protests: Workers of #MarathaKrantiMorcha block a local train in Thane pic.twitter.com/cotagpKpzp

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

Mumbai: A group of Maratha Kranti Morcha workers request with folded hands, the shopkeepers in Bandra to shut their shops. #MaharashtraBandh pic.twitter.com/zVcHM6b3WV

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

Jagannath Sonavne, a protester who attempted suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday in Aurangabad's Deogaon Rangari, dies in a hospital. He was a protester in the agitation for reservation for Maratha community in govt jobs and education: ANI news

Taxis not plying on Mumbai roads. "We fear that the protestors will vandalise our vehicles," said a group of taxi owners.

MUMBAI: Protestors are now heading towards Eastern Gateway. Traffic movement affected. 

Protestors block vehicular movement in Mumbai, set tyres ablaze. Mumbai trains and buses witnessing less than 50 % attendance so far on Wednesday.

 Protestors set tyres ablaze in the middle of a road.

#MarathaReservation protests: Tires set ablaze on Majiwada bridge in Thane. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/2sTPFB1zRo

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

We are not blocking any road. We are carrying out a peaceful protest. We have told our workers that there should be no inconvenience to the police or govt due to our protest. We are asking people to shut down their shops: Maratha Kranti Morcha #MaharashtraBandh pic.twitter.com/mM38GDTQby

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

“We are not blocking any road. We are carrying out a peaceful protest. We have told our workers that there should be no inconvenience to the police or govt due to our protest. We are asking people to shut down their shops,” said a member of the Maratha Kranti Morcha.

#MarathaReservation protest enters day 2: Visuals from Thane's Teen Haath Naka. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/3eaOT1ziUi

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

#Maharashtra: Police deployed outside BJP office in Mumbai in wake of #MarathaReservation protests pic.twitter.com/3aKKvR7Xkz

— ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

Protesters pelted stones on two Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses near Navi Mumbai's Ghansoli this morning. BEST bus services from Airoli to Vashi have been completely stopped today in the light of Maharashtra bandh, reports news agency ANI.

Pune saw sporadic incidents of stone pelting on Tuesday. Some people threw stones at an administrative building in Baramati and a state transport bus was attacked, ASP Sandip Pakhale said.
Maratha Kranti Morcha members took out a rally in Pune. "Our members took out a rally in Pune and traders kept their shops closed in Deccan, Laxmi Road and Bajirao Road areas of the city," said Shantaram Kunjir, a convener of the morcha.

Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly met the held a high-level meeting with the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on the quota issue.

Police on alert at several places after Bandh was called in areas like Palghar, Thane Raigad and Navi Mumbai.

Complete shutdown has been called in Palghar, Thane Raigad and Navi Mumbai. However, schools, colleges, ambulances and hospitals are exempted from the bandh.

"We will observe a peaceful bandh on Wednesday. Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad to remain closed on Wednesday. Schools and colleges will not be included in this bandh as we do not intend to trouble anyone," Maratha Kranti Samaj said on Tuesday.

Eight policemen, including two officers, were hurt after protesters threw stones at the Ghansangvi police station, police said. A fire brigade van was also set ablaze at Kaygaon.

A constable deployed near the funeral venue of the protester who jumped to death on Tuesday died. Police said the cause of death is yet to be ascertained. "The postmortem report is awaited. Some injury marks were seen on his hands and legs," a police official said.

Maratha Kranti Morcha has called for a Mumbai shutdown on Wednesday. Another outfit, the Sakal Maratha Samaj, called for a bandh tomorrow in Navi Mumbai and Panvel.