30 October,2023 10:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
CM Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Maratha quota stir: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met Governor Ramesh Bais late Monday evening to apprise him of the developments related to the Maratha quota stir, which descended into violence and arson in several places of the state during the day, the PTI reported.
According to the PTI, a CMO official said that the meeting was a "routine procedure" under which the chief minister briefs the governor "whenever there is some major development or social unrest in society".
CM Eknath Shinde was at Raj Bhavan for 45 minutes, after which deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, met the CM at his official residence Varsha, as per the PTI.
During the day, angry protesters torched, vandalised homes or offices of three MLAs -- two of the NCP and one of the BJP -- targeted a municipal council building and disrupted road traffic in different parts of the state, police said, adding no casualties were reported, according to the news agency.
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The incidents of violence and arson were reported from central Maharashtra's Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts.
The state-run Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation said it was stopping operations from several depots in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad) after some of its buses were damaged.
At least 13 Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses have been reportedly damaged in the last 48 hours, including four on Monday, in the Maratha quota stir underway in parts of Maharashtra, leading to the state-run transport corporation taking a decision to shut operations in 30 of its 250 depots, an official said, according to the PTI.
Nine buses were damaged on Sunday, he said, adding the 30 depots where operations have been stopped are in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, the PTI reported.
Meanwhile, two Lok Sabha MPs of the ruling Shiv Sena resigned in support of the reservation demand.
Protests have been taking place in various parts of the state seeking reservation in jobs and education for the Maratha community since the end of August.
It includes a fast unto death since October 25 by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, and localised stirs that are centred on not allowing leaders to enter villages till they make their stand clear on the demand.
(with PTI inputs)
