Latur: SC women protest Dhoble's remarks as scanty rains push farmers toward crisis
Latur witnessed a wave of social and civic unrest this week as women from the Scheduled Caste Mahar community demonstrated outside the Gandhi Chowk police station demanding action against former minister Laxman Dhoble. At the same time, monsoon failure across the district has pushed farmers to the edge, prompting opposition demands for immediate state relief and a direct assurance from Chief Minister Fadnavis.
🗳️ SC Women Stage Protest Over Dhoble's Alleged Derogatory Remarks
A group of women from the Scheduled Caste community staged a protest in Latur on Thursday, demanding immediate action against former Maharashtra minister Laxman Dhoble. The protesters alleged that Dhoble made derogatory remarks concerning women and girls from the Mahar community during a public rally in Nanded on September 13, at which he was addressing demands for sub-classification within Scheduled Caste reservations. Carrying banners describing his alleged remarks as objectionable and insulting, the protesters raised slogans and staged a symbolic Jode Maro demonstration — the ritual of striking with footwear as a mark of contempt. They demanded that police file a case against Dhoble immediately, asserting that targeting women on the basis of their caste could fracture social harmony in the district. A formal complaint was submitted to the Gandhi Chowk police station. The demonstration drew attention to the broader politics of SC sub-classification in Maharashtra, a contentious issue that has seen increasing agitation across the Marathwada region in recent months. Supporters of the protesters said the Mahar community, a significant political constituency in Latur district, expected swift action from the administration rather than a prolonged inquiry. Dhoble has not publicly responded to the specific Latur protest as of the reports available. [9]
🗳️ Fadnavis Flags Drought Crisis in Latur and Dharashiv, Pledges Help
Latur and the neighbouring Dharashiv district are facing an extremely serious situation as the kharif season draws to a close with significantly below-average rainfall recorded across both districts, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged in public remarks. Addressing concerns raised about crop failures and farmer distress in the Marathwada region, Fadnavis called the conditions in Latur and Dharashiv especially grave and assured that the state government would extend every possible form of help to affected farming communities. The remarks came as NCP (Sharad Pawar) workers in Latur intensified their agitation, blocking roads to demand immediate drought relief for farmers who have seen their soybean and tur crops wilt under parched conditions. The Marathwada region, historically vulnerable to erratic rainfall, has faced particular strain this year with moisture deficits deepening through September. Farmers have been calling for rapid completion of crop damage compensation surveys and for seed and input subsidies to be disbursed before the rabi sowing season begins. District administration officials have submitted preliminary crop damage reports to the divisional commission, and a state-level relief package is under consideration. The political pressure is mounting on the ruling Mahayuti alliance as multiple Marathwada constituencies head toward assembly elections, making farmer distress a central electoral issue. [8]
🪔 BJP Functionary Booked for Highway Blockade During Ganesh Procession
A case was registered in Latur against a local BJP functionary and thirteen others in connection with a Ganesh idol immersion procession that resulted in a highway being blocked for an extended period, police officials confirmed. The incident took place during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival when the procession allegedly obstructed a key stretch of a state highway in the district, disrupting traffic and causing significant inconvenience to commuters and motorists. Police said the accused were booked under relevant sections for blocking a public thoroughfare without prior sanction. The BJP functionary, whose identity was disclosed in police records, denied the charges and described the case registration as politically motivated targeting of the community's right to celebrate a major religious occasion. Supporters gathered at the local BJP office and demanded immediate withdrawal of the case, arguing that Ganesh processions are a protected cultural and religious expression. The incident has reignited debates in Latur about the management of major festival processions, particularly when they intersect with heavily trafficked state highways. Authorities in the district have in previous years attempted to pre-negotiate routes with organisers to minimise road blockages, but compliance has been inconsistent. The case adds to a pattern seen in multiple Maharashtra cities where post-Ganeshotsav legal action against procession participants has generated political controversy. [5]
Sources: [9] Deccan Herald · [8] Press Trust of India · [5] ThePrint