30 Jan 2024 | 05:42 AM UTC
India: Demonstrations to occur across Maharashtra from Feb. 1; rallies planned in Ahmednagar 15:00 Feb. 3 and Sangli Feb. 11
Protests planned across Maharashtra State, India, from Feb. 1. Tight security, transport disruptions likely; scuffles possible.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra State Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has called for statewide protests from Feb 1. Activists will gather at the residences of local legislators. A related rally will take place at the Clara Bruce High School Ground, Ahmednagar District, from 15:00 Feb. 3 and in Sangli District Feb. 11. The actions are to denounce the state government's recent commitment to extend job, education, and political reservations under Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to the Maratha community. Organizers have called for over 200,000 participants from the OBC community to join the action. Actual attendance levels will likely be lower. Additional unannounced gatherings may materialize at public squares, press clubs, near monuments, and along major thoroughfares.
Heightened security and localized transport disruptions are likely around the main protest sites. Approximately 150 police personnel will deploy Feb. 3 to ensure order; road closures and traffic diversions around Clara Bruce High School Ground are possible. Isolated clashes may occur, especially if police attempt to disperse the gatherings forcibly or if demonstrators try to breach buildings. Violent altercations may also happen if Maratha activists hold counterprotests or disrupt rallies. Increased vehicular congestion may occur near demonstration sites, especially in the event of street marches or road blockades. Increased demand for public transport is possible as many attendees arrive at and leave the protest sites.
Avoid protest sites as a precaution. Allow additional time for travel to nearby destinations; use alternative routes to circumvent rally sites. Do not navigate roadblocks as a safety precaution; wait for police to dismantle them. Monitor trusted local media for updates on protest details, as organizers may not announce them in advance. Heed all local security and traffic advisories.
The politically influential Maratha community makes up over 30 percent of the population in Maharashtra State. Several Maratha groups have protested periodically in the past decades over the community's long-standing demand for job and education reservations. Amid renewed protests, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde agreed Jan. 27 to pass legislation conferring OBC status to the Maratha community. Activists from OBC groups oppose the decision citing it favors the Maratha community at the cost of existing OBCs. Fresh unrest also remains possible if legal challenges occur, given a similar bill in the past was held untenable by the Supreme Court of India in 2021.
