Dhangar community stages ‘rasta roko’ protests near Manmad

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Pressing for reservation rights, members of the Dhangar community staged an hour long rasta roko (block the roads) protest near Manmad on Saturday afternoon. The protestors blocked the busy Pune–Indore highway at Jalgaon Nimbayati village near Manmad town. Led by the state general secretary of Malhar Sena, Macchindra Bidgar, the protestors brought along with them their sheep, cattle, and families. They sat on the road and staged the protest demanding reservation for the community by including them under the category of scheduled tribes (ST)."We are demanding nothing new from the state govt. We only want our right that has been promised by the Constitution of India, and that is reservation through the ST category," said Bidgar.He said, "We urge the govt not to test our patience. In case of delay, we will have to intensify the agitation and the govt will be responsible for the fallout." The agitation lasted for about one hour on the busy road, leading to a traffic jam on both sides of the village. The police intervened in the matter, and the agitation was called off after the community members presented their charter of demands to the tahsildar of Malegaon, Vishal Sonawane.