Aurangabad, Oct 22:
A human chain was organized by Jai Malhar Sena (JMS) today to demand reservation under Scheduled Tribe (ST) category for the Dhangar community. It was claimed that about ten thousand community members would participate in this protest organized on the route from Aurangabad to Jalna. But only a handful of activists were present near the residence of the minister for employment guarantee scheme Sandipan Bhumare.
There was a heavy police presence near Bhumare''s house. Bhumare himself nor his representatives were not there to accept the statement. JMS president Lahu Shewale protested, saying, "We carried out this mass agitation from the residence of state government representative Bhumare to the house of central government representative Raosaheb Danve in Jalna. In some places there were jal samadhi protests. If the government does not give ST reservation to the Dhangar community this year, we will have no choice but to start agitation." Aam Aadmi Party leader Subhash Mane was present on the occasion. There were protests in many places in the city. No activists were seen in Sutagirani Chowk. Vitthal Korde, Tulshiram Khatke, Kashinath Argade, Murlidhar Bansode and other activists were present.