No Pune bandh, only peaceful protest, says Maratha Kranti Morcha

In Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, the rumours of a bandh call have done the rounds since Monday evening. Shridhar Chalkha, an activist, said, “I have received several messages on my cell phone, saying there is a Pune bandh on Tuesday. There is a lot of confusion among the citizens.”

Ganesh Shitole, who works with a private firm, said, “I am also confused as to whether to travel to office or not as there are too many violent incidents taking place everywhere. I got a few calls asking whether there is a Pune bandh.”

Kunjeer said they would protest as per the guidelines issued by Jarange-Patil. “’We are holding a peaceful hunger strike and a candlelight march. We are not going to the doorsteps of politicians. If politicians are coming to our area, we are submitting our demands to them and urging them to put pressure on the government to get reservation for the community,” he said.

Appealing to the Maratha community to not resort to violent means, Kunjeer said, “No one should take the law into their hands…We should agitate in a peaceful manner so that the government listens to our voice and provides reservation to the community.”

Kunjeer also said that the Maratha community can get reservation within the 50 per cent quota limit. “However, the government is not ready to hold discussions…And that is why we have no option but to agitate,” he said.