'Criminal cases against Maratha agitators should be withdrawn'

A Maratha outfit demanded today that the criminal cases registered against those who took part in the community's recent agitation for quota should be withdrawn by the Maharashtra government.

Abasaheb Patil, leader of 'Maratha Kranti Thok Morcha' also said that people should agitate in a peaceful manner, by obtaining due permissions from the police.

Speaking to reporters here, Patil said the government has promised that the reservation in jobs and education would be given to the Maratha community by November, and if it fails to do so, "we will use guerrilla tactics to carry out our agitation".

"Many youth who participated in the agitation in the first two weeks of August are now facing charges such as attempt to murder, which is a very serious offence. Some of them are on the run due to the fear," Patil said, demanding that these charges be withdrawn.