Despite adverse weather conditions, community members from various parts of the state participated in the march in large numbers. The protesters argued that sub-categorisation is necessary to ensure the benefits of reservation reach the more deprived sections within the Scheduled Castes.
In its verdict on 1 August 2024, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court acknowledged that states have the right to sub-categorise Scheduled Caste reservations. Against this backdrop, a demand was made to implement this decision in Maharashtra as well.
The main demands placed before the government through the march included the immediate implementation of sub-categorisation, providing equal justice to the deprived sections, and the government taking a concrete decision in this regard.
The organisers announced that if the state government does not declare a decision by 25 September, a 'Nirdhar Morcha' will be organised at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on 29 September. An appeal was also made to citizens across the state to participate in this march.
