As the Maratha community held a silent march at Baramati here, Maratha strongman and NCP chief Sharad Pawar stayed away from the event.
Pawar's daughter and Baramati MP Supriya Sule and his nephew and former deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also did not take part in the march.
Ajit Pawar had participated in the Maratha march in Pune on Sunday, and it was expected that Pawar family may take part in the march at Baramati, the hometwon of the NCP chief.
Apart from Marathas, the town has a sizable population of Dhangars and other other backward communities.
The silent march began from Kasba area at 11.30 AM. President of the Maratha Kranti Muk Morcha, Rajendra Kondhare claimed that around seven to eight lakh people participated in the event.
The march had a sizable presence of women and youth.
Later, a memorandum of demands was submitted to the local administration.
The politically dominant Maratha community has been holding marches at various cities across Maharashtra. Its demands include stern action against the culprits of Kopardi rape and murder case, reservations for the community and scrapping of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The silent marches began after the alleged rape and murder of a Maratha girl by Dalits at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district in July.
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