This story is from September 25, 2016

15 lakh protesters take to Nashik's streets for community causes

15 lakh protesters take to Nashik's streets for community causes
<p>Representative image<br></p>
NASHIK: Over 15 lakh Marathas took to the streets of Nashik on Saturday to protest the rape-murder of a minor at Kopardi village and seek Maratha reservation in educational institutions and government jobs and repeal of the Atrocity Act.
The protesters - children, youth, men and women from all walks of life - marched the 5-km stretch from Tapovan to Anant Kanhere Maidan (Golf Club) silently.
Even as the usual slogan shouting was missing from the rally, the sheer strength of the crowd, part of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, was enough to leave a mark.
Saturday saw the largest number of participants - over 15 lakh -in the Maratha Kranti Morcha that has so far been organised in various Maharashtra districts, including Jalgaon, Beed and Ahmednagar. Dubbed "apolitical" by many, the rally witnessed members across party lines and ideologies coming together to fight for the community's common cause.
Starting at 10.30am, citizens gathering from all corners of the district began their walk towards Anant Kanhere Maidan. The morcha that started from Tapovan, hit the Aurangabad-Nashik highway, and traversed its way to Nimani Bus stand to Panchavati Karanja, Ravivar Karanja and Central Bus Station to reach Anant Kanhere Maidan.
Senior police officials, including commissioner Ravindra Singhal, monitored the entire event. A special team was also in place that took stock of the situation at the Golf Club grounds, the district collectorate and Ashok Stambh from hotel Rajdoot.
The police bandobast was in place from 6am, while over 10,000 volunteers were deployed by the organisers to ensure that the rally remained event free. Those arriving on vehicles were guided to the parking spots near Mico circle,
Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan and police commissionerate, among others.
Assistant commissioner of police Sachin Gore confirmed that approximately 15 lakh people took part in the protest march.
While the protesters did not raise the voice, their placards narrated the "sorry state of affairs of the Maratha community in Maharashtra". The rally, which was led by the women, had participation from varied spheres of life - lawyers, doctors, engineers, professionals, businessmen and farmers, followed by politicians. "The very purpose of the rally was the safety of women. The girls and women led the way, and we followed them, pledging our support all the way," said one of the lawyers, who was part of the lawyers' contingent in the rally.
Protesters from Malegaon, Baglan, Chandwad, Yeola and Niphad districts came in large numbers to show support. But there was little representation from the tribal-dominated parts of Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri.
For Samadhan Pawar from Vanpat village of Malegaon taluka, Saturday's journey started as early as 5am. "We booked three pick-up vans from our village. One of the vehicles carried the women from our village," said Pawar, as he took a short break near Swami Narayan Mandir, Aurangabad naka.
"We would not have demanded for Maratha reservation had agriculture not been affected from the vagaries of nature. Today, farmers are committing suicide and children are being orphaned. None of us wants our next generation to stick to the field, given the labour-intense activities it involves with poor returns," lawyer Ramnath Dusing said.
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