In a dramatic display of determination, a Maratha youth in Alandi has drawn inspiration from the iconic character Veeru in the movie “Sholay” to demand reservation for the Maratha community. The protester, identified as Shrikant Kakade, has ascended a water tank and pledged not to come down until the Maratha community is granted its rightful reservation. This extraordinary protest unfolded on Sunday, the 29th of October, in the afternoon.
The demand for Maratha community reservation has been a persistent issue across the state of Maharashtra, with the Maratha Kranti Morcha continuing their efforts to secure reservations and obtain an OBC caste certificate for their subcaste, Kunbi. Just two days prior to this protest, a former sarpanch tragically ended his life by jumping into the Indrayani River in Alandi, citing the absence of Maratha community reservation as the reason. In response to this tragedy, another fervent protest has emerged in Alandi.
The specific incident took place at a water tank near Lakshmi Chowk in Alandi, where Shrikant Kakade climbed atop the structure, holding a placard that bore the words, “One Maratha, Lakh Maratha.” In a video shared on social media, he expressed frustration with the government’s handling of the Maratha reservation issue and criticized the authorities for “hanging the Marathas out to dry.”
Srikant argued that the government’s actions have been driving Marathas to take extreme measures like suicide, emphasizing the urgent need for Maratha reservation. He also highlighted the deteriorating health of Manoj Jarange, a fellow protester. Shrikant made a resolute commitment to remain perched on the water tank until the Maratha community is granted reservation, while urging the government to act swiftly and justly.
In response to this bold and attention-grabbing protest, the Alandi police, fire brigade personnel, and fellow Maratha protestors gathered at the scene, making concerted efforts to persuade Srikant to descend from the water tank.
