All you need to know about Maratha community's demand for reservation

Maratha protesters have attacked buses, stopped train services and blocked highways in parts of Maharashtra as part of their latest round of agitation, which has even seen a youth commit suicide.

Maratha Kranti Morcha activists stop the traffic during their statewide bandh called for reservations in jobs and education at Thane in Mumbai on Wednesday July 25 2018. | PTI

The Marathas, who form around a third of Maharashtra's nearly 13 crore population, held over 50 'mook morchas' (silent marches) in 2016 and 2017 across Maharashtra pressing for reservation among other demands.

From a series of huge, silent and disciplined marches to violent demonstrations, the protest by the Maratha community now is an antithesis of their efforts to seek reservations in jobs and education.

What is the Maratha agitation all about?

Marathas are an influential community, making up nearly 32 per cent of Maharashtra’s population.
Well-settled community
80 % and above land owned by Marathas in Maharashtra.
86 of 105 sugar factories owned by Marathas
55 % educational institutions
70 % cooperative bodies controlled
60 % of all Maharashtra MLAs since 1962
12 of 18 chief ministers were Marathas

IN PICS | Agitation by Maratha communities over reservation quota
turns violent in Maharashtra

What are the major issues raised by Marathas?

Economic liberalization
Lack of jobs
Agrarian crisis

What are their demands?

Demand for Maratha quota began in 2016
Kunbis, non-elite tillers from community already in OBC quota since 1989
Marathas want to halt recruitment to govt posts

Political appeasement

16% quota granted by UPA government in 2014
Bombay High Court struck down quota
BJP government brought in a new Bill to grant quota
Govt challenged HC order in SC
Case pending in HC
Govt panel set up to collect evidence of socio-economic backwardness of community
Proposal sent to state backward class commission

The agitation was called off by the Maratha Kranti Morcha coordination committee on Wednesday (25 July 2018) afternoon as the stir for a quota for Marathas turned violent at several places, including Navi Mumbai and Thane.

The police had arrested 20 people for instigating violence in the guise of participating in the Maratha Morcha, and Navi Mumbai MLC Narendra Patil blamed 'unknown' persons for the violence.