Maratha quota agitation turns violent, MLA\'s home set afire

Mumbai: The ongoing Maratha quota agitation in Maharashtra turned violent on Monday with the NCP MLA Prakash Solanke's home in Beed district vandalised and set on fire by the protestors. The state transport department also had to suspend its services in nine districts, mostly in the Marathwada region, after its buses were targeted by stone-pelting.

The protests against Solanke came on the backdrop of alleged comments by the legislator about the hunger strike of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. A violent mob pelted stones at Solanke’s home in Majalgaon taluka in Beed district and torched several of his vehicles parked there.

"I was inside my home when it was attacked. Fortunately None of my family members or staff were injured. We are safe but there is huge loss of property," said Solanke.

The Maratha community's violent reaction came after an audio clip went viral, in which Solanke is purportedly heard saying, "The (Maratha reservation) issue has become a child's game. The person who has not even contested a gram panchayat election (seen as a dig at Patil), has become a smart person today."

Meanwhile, the agitation for Maratha reservation intensified further as protestors stone pelted the state transport buses, due to which the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC)  suspended its services in nine districts, mostly in the Marathwada region. Hundreds of community activists blocked the Dhule-Solapur highway by burning tyres on the road.

The mob also set the office of the Majalgaon Nagar Parishad in Beed district on fire and pelted stones at police vehicles. The protesters have called for a shutdown of the market.

To express their ire, the Maratha activists also stopped several politicians including MLAs and MPs were stopped from entering villages.

Jarange-Patil, who is on the sixth day of his hunger strike, blamed Solanke for the attack saying the latter must have provoked the Maratha community activists. "First of all Marathas would never do such a thing. If they have done it, they must have been provoked and instigated by the MLA. He (Solanke)has a habit of making controversial speeches.