The community plans to organise a silent rally, without any known political face or leader, in the capital.
After nearly 40 massive silent protests across several districts and cities of Maharashtra, the Maratha agitation for reservation and amendment in the Atrocities Act is set to arrive at Delhi's doorstep. Like-minded Marathas living in Delhi, Haryana and even far-off Jammu met late on Sunday evening to set off a plan similar to the one in Maharashtra.
The community plans to organise a silent rally, without any known political face or leader, in the capital. Around 100 people, including lawyers, engineers, doctors, civil services aspirants, ex-servicemen and gold traders were present at the meet held at Chowgule Public School in Karol Bagh. The organisers initially wanted to meet at the New Maharashtra Sadan to discuss the plan but the state administration denied them permission.
The gathering decided that a rally should be organised in October end, before the last of the protest rallies in Mumbai, to draw Central government's attention to the demands of Marathas in Maharashtra. Those organising the rally aim to mobilise an ambitious one lakh people in the capital. While a location for the rally has not yet been finalised, Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street and Ramlila Maidan have been shortlisted as potential venues.
The gold trading and gold melting Maratha community members, who have been living in Delhi for over three generations now, is one of the groups spearheading the plan. Concentrated in Karol Bagh and Rajendra Nagar, they have the requisite financial backing to fund a sizeable rally.
People associated with organising the proposed rally said they plan to mobilise Marathas in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu. "We saw an enthusiastic response during our meeting on Sunday, where people from Haryana and Jammu, too, participated. Even those from Maharashtra were coming ahead and calling us to convey that they will travel to Delhi to participate in the rally," said Pradip Patil, a gold trader.
The Rod Marathas from Haryana, with a sizeable population of six lakh, have come forward to support the rally planned in Delhi. A few Rod Marathas even attended the meeting on Sunday.
According to studies, Rod Marathas are considered the descendants of hundreds of Maratha soldiers who fought in the third battle of Panipat in 1761. The community feels a little alienated in the present day Haryana, as they are not considered as equals by the dominant Jat community.
"Since the Maharashtrian community itself is not big in Delhi, we are reaching out to Marathas from across the North Indian belt. We want to make ourselves heard in the power centre of the country, before the protests culminate in Mumbai," said Vishal Salunkhe, another person associated with organising the rally.
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