Protesters Gather Against Sule; Seek Immediate Assembly Session for Maratha Quota Discussion

In a significant turn of events in Mumbai, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule faced anger from Maratha protestors during her visit to Azad Maidan. The incident occurred as Sule sat on a dais with Maratha leader Manoj Jarange, who is observing an indefinite fast for reservation under the OBC category for Marathas.

While leaving the venue, some protesters blocked Sule's car and raised slogans against her father, political heavyweight Sharad Pawar. Reports suggest that some demonstrators even attempted to throw a water bottle at Sule. Security personnel were quick to intervene, clearing the way for Sule's vehicle after the incident.

The incident at Azad Maidan led to considerable chaos and a brief period of heightened tension. In response, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), condemned acts such as surrounding leaders, throwing objects, or creating chaos. Fadnavis stated that leaders visiting protest sites should be treated with dignity. He implied that such acts would not help anyone.

This is not the first time the Maratha reservation issue has sparked controversy. BJP MLC Praveen Darekar accused Sharad Pawar of not taking any concrete decision regarding Maratha reservation despite being part of several state and Central governments. Darekar stated that many Maratha youths are unhappy with Sharad Pawar's stance on the Maratha quota issue.

Meanwhile, Supriya Sule demanded a special session of the Maharashtra Assembly to address the reservation issue. The statement from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was in response to the incident at Azad Maidan, where he also condemned the incident at the protest site.

It's important to note that the incident in Dantewada, where a gun exchange continued and the body of a Naxal was recovered, is not related to the events in Mumbai. The situation in Mumbai remains tense, with the Maratha community continuing their protests for reservation. The incident at Azad Maidan serves as a reminder of the complexities and emotions surrounding the reservation issue in Maharashtra.