Maharashtra is bracing for a day- long shutdown tomorrow called by an umbrella organisation of pro-quota Maratha groups, with the authorities ordering closure of schools and colleges in some areas fearing violence.
The 'bandh' is being organised despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' assurances that his government was working on providing reservation to the Marathas in government jobs and educational institutions, one that is legally sustainable.
Fadnavis had sought time till November to take steps with regard to the quota.
On the eve of the bandh, senior minister Chandrakant Patil said today that "nothing can be done" on their demand till November 15.
The state police has said it will make maximum deployment of its personnel as also the central forces requisitioned so as to maintain the law and order.
Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population, have been demanding 16 per cent reservation.
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The community members had earlier taken out silent marches across the state to highlight their demands, prominent among them being that of reservation.
The agitation, however, turned violent after a 27-year- old protester jumped to his death in Godavari river near Aurangabad on July 23.
A number of places, especially Koparkhairane and Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai, had witnessed violence during the Maratha quota stir late last month.
Around 20 policemen, including eight officers, were injured in stone-pelting by protesters at Kopar Khairane and Kalamboli. A protester, injured in the violence in Navi Mumbai, had succumbed to his injuries.
According to the police, between July 18 and 27, 276 cases of violence were registered across the state during the quota agitation. There were incidents of stone pelting at over 250 places and 198 incidents of arson, he said.
Property, including both public and private, worth more than Rs 4.5 crore was damaged within those 10 days, a police official said.
Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella body of Maratha groups, today said the 'bandh' would be observed across Maharashtra, except Navi Mumbai, tomorrow.
"It will be a state-wide bandh, excluding Navi Mumbai. All the essential services, schools and colleges have been excluded from the bandh," Amol Jadhavrao, a leader of Sakal Maratha Samaj told reporters.
"Due to some sensitive issues, we have decided not to observe bandh in Navi Mumbai," he said.
Jadhavrao said, "It will be a peaceful protest from 8 am to 6 pm. I appeal to my fellow Maratha youths to desist from committing suicides. It is not going to help the community and its cause."
Sakal Maratha Samaj leader Jadhavrao said, "We are also making an appeal to the Maratha youths to stay away from violence. We will not indulge in any aggressive protest and there will be no damage to public properties."