After organising 56 massive protests across the state in last one year, the Maratha community will march in Mumbai with historic numbers on August 9.

The silent march in Mumbai has been planned to press the Maratha community demands of justice to 15-year-old rape victim from Kopardi, reservations for Maratha community, amendment in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 to prevent its misuse, implementation of Dr Swaminathan commission report for the fair prices to farmers. etc.

Bhaiya Patil, the social media convener of the Maratha Kranti Morcha said that the march will start from Jijamata Udyan, Byculla at 11 am and conclude at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai.

“We are expecting large numbers of people from the Maratha community from overall the state. It will be a historic, silent march and surely break all previous rally records,” Patil said.

Sanjeev Bhor-Patil, a member of the steering committee of Sakal Maratha Samaj – the apex body of the community said that the preparation for the Mumbai march has been completed. “We had district-wise meetings and they have made their own transport arrangements. We are not coming to Mumbai to disturb the people but to wake the government from its slumber. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has been promising that most demands of the Maratha community will be fulfilled. But it has been years since we have been fighting for our rights. Besides, one year on, and the Kopardi rape victim is yet to get justice. It is shameful and unfortunate. This is the final march. The government should meet the demands as early as possible otherwise things will go out of hand,” Bhor Patil said.

He added, “The code of conduct for the Mumbai rally will be the same as any other rally. There will be no slogan-shouting and everyone will march silently and peacefully. There will also be volunteers on the road on August 9 to guide the people.”

Chandrakant Patil, the revenue minister, also said that BJP MLAs from the Maratha community can also participate in the march. “We had called the meeting of all Maratha MLA/MLCs in Mumbai recently where most of the elected representatives agreed to attend the march. We have to show unity to get done our work. We hope the government comes forward, discusses the demands and fulfills them,” said Vinayak Mete, MLC and president of Shivsangram Party.