Bandh call by Maratha outfits gets strong support in rural Jalna & Parbhani

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The bandh call given by the Maratha organisations got a significanrt response in rural parts of Jalna and Parbhani districts on Sunday. Functionaries of traders' bodies in both districts said nearly 90% of commercial establishments were shut in the rural areas, though the response was somehat muted in the district headquarters.
The bandh call was given to express solidarity with quota activist Manoj Jarange, whose hunger strike entered its sixth day at Jalna's Antarwali Sarathi on Sunday.The 42-year-old reservation activist has been given IV fluids, and the panel of govt doctors said his health is stable. Satish Panch, a functionary of a traders' body in Jalna, said the bandh evoked a strong response in the rural parts and taluka places. "In Jalna city, around 20% of establishments were closed. Sunday is a holiday for some establishments, and those too remained closed," he said. Panch said another bandh has been called on Monday by some Hindu organisations, and it is up to shop owners to take a call on that. Sachin Ambilwade, president of the traders' association in Parbhani, also said that rural parts reported greater response to the bandh than the urban areas. "In our district, a section of Maratha groups had called for a bandh on Monday (instead of Sunday). So, there was some confusion," he said.
OBC activists also on hunger strike in Jalna
OBC activist Laxman Hake, along with another activist Navnath Waghmare, is also observing a hunger strike at Jalna's Wadigodri to protect the OBC quota. Hake and Waghmare's agitation entered its fourth day on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Jarange said his hunger strike was the "last opportunity" for deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to grant the quota to the Maratha community. "If Fadnavis loses this opportunity, he will not be able to face the community. Marathas will realise that Fadnavis aims to destroy the community," he said.
A fresh war of words also erupted between Jarange and Hake. While Jarange branded Hake and his supporters a "drama company" of cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, the OBC activist called Jarange a "tamasha" artist.
Sunday being a holiday, crowds at Jarange and Hake's agitation sites started swelling. Police officials were on their toes throughout the day.