Maratha bandh in Mumbai begins with a whimper

TIL Desk/National/Mumbai/ The day-long Maharashtra bandh called today from 8 am to 6 pm by Maratha organisations demanding reservations in jobs and educational institutions is getting a mixed response. In Mumbai, local trains are running on time and there are no reports of any traffic disruptions. However, many shopkeepers kept their establishments shut fearing violence.

Though Maratha organisations have said the bandh will not include Nashik, Thane and Navi Mumbai, many schools were shut fearing violence. In Pune too, schools and colleges remained shut.  The Dadar wholesale vegetable market was shut as vendors did not wanted to risk being the target of violence. The APMC wholesale market in Navi Mumbai too was shut as trucks coming in from outside Mumbai have refused to ply.

There is heavy police bandobast across the state. Internet services have been suspended in 7 tehsils of Pune district- Shirur, Khed, Baramati, Junnar, Maval, Daund and Bhor, as a precautionary measure.

The bandh is being organised despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ assurances that his government was working on providing reservation to the Marathas in government jobs and educational institutions, one that is legally sustainable. Fadnavis had sought time till November to take steps with regard to the quota demands.