Emperor’s Children
- A dominant and politically powerful community, the Marathas now want quotas
- Anti-atrocity laws, they say, should be changed or repealed because Dalits file false cases
- The farm crisis has hit Marathas badly. Without education, their youth are unable to get jobs.
***
Less than a month after Nashik held one of the many record-breaking Maratha morchas, the city and neighbouring villages witnessed a tense week after a minor was allegedly sexually assaulted by another minor. The incident acquired caste overtones in no time because the accused is a Dalit, the victim a Maratha. Huge crowds took to the streets torching buses and police vehicles. At least seven to eight Dalit houses in the nearby villages were also burnt down. The state administration controlled the situation by disabling internet and transport services. The internet was restored after a week and the area continues to be on alert.
