#Maratha Quota Protests : Ramdas Athawale Says Reservation A Must, Slams Police Action; MSRTC Suffers Losses Of Rs 13.25 Cr In Three Days

Picture : ANI

At least 46 out of 250 bus depots of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) were completely shut due to protests over the reservation for the Maratha community, and it has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 13.25 crore in the last three days, an official said , reported PTI

Bus operations in Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Parbhani, Hingoli, Jalna, Nanded, and Dharashiv districts have been badly hit by the protests, a spokesperson of the MSRTC told PTI.

As many as 20 buses were torched and 19 were damaged amid the protests over the last three days, he said.

Earlier, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has said the Maratha community must be given reservations in jobs and education without it affecting such provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Addressing a rally of his RPI(A) , the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment condemned the police action on Maratha quota protestors in Jalna on September 1.

“The RPI was the first to support reservations for the Maratha community. They must be given quota without it affecting reservations provided to SCs and STs,” he said.