On October 9, 2025, leaders of the OBC (Other Backward Classes) community in Nagpur announced plans to stage a protest against the state government’s decision to grant reservation benefits to the Maratha community. The demonstration, set to take place near central administrative offices, aims to highlight concerns that the Maratha quota could reduce educational and job opportunities for OBC students and job seekers. Authorities in Nagpur are preparing traffic diversions and security arrangements in anticipation of large crowds. This protest is part of a recurring pattern of caste-based agitations in Maharashtra. In 2018, massive Maratha rallies across the state demanded reservation in jobs and education, leading to temporary roadblocks, shutdowns, and political debates. Similarly, in 2019, OBC and SC/ST groups organized demonstrations in several cities, claiming their own quota rights were being overshadowed by new benefits for other communities. These recurring clashes underscore the sensitive nature of reservation policies in the state, where social justice, historical disadvantage, and political considerations often collide. The Nagpur protest is expected to draw participation from multiple OBC organizations and student groups, continuing a legacy of community mobilization around quota issues. Earlier incidents, such as the 2018 Maratha bandh and 2019 OBC protests, saw large gatherings, police deployments, and negotiations with authorities, setting a precedent for how city administrations respond to such mobilizations. The demonstration in Nagpur will likely follow similar patterns, emphasizing the ongoing contestation over reservation policies in Maharashtra. #OBCProtest #MarathaQuota #NagpurNews #ReservationDebate #MaharashtraPolitics #CommunityMobilization #EducationOpportunities #SocialJustice #CasteAgitations #IndianNews
