Mysuru: Nearly 2,000 Maratha community members, under the banner of ‘Sakala Maratha Samaja,’ took out a rally in city this morning, to urge the State Government to include them under 2(A) Category reservation for jobs and education.

The other demands included granting linguistic minority status to the community, establishment of an exclusive Maratha Development Corporation, appropriate political representation to the community and declaration of Shahaji Maharaj ‘Samadhi’ at Hodigere in Channagiri taluk of Davangere district as a National Memorial.

The rally, with the participants sporting saffron caps and holding saffron flags, began their march from Kote Anjaneyaswamy  Temple and passed through Gandhi Square, Sayyaji Rao Road, D. Devaraj Urs Road,   JLB Road and Hunsur Road before reaching the Deputy  Commissioner’s (DC) office, where a memorandum was submitted.

A portrait of Shivaji Maharaj was carried on a silver chariot along with the procession.

Samaja Hon. President Maruthi Rao Pawar, President Keshav Rao Jadhav, office-bearers Chandra Rao Kavale, Nagendra Rao Avathale, Gnanaprakash, Gopal Rao Jadhav and Jayaram Rao Lalige, Corporator Sunil, Hunsur MLA H.P. Manjunath and others took part.

Madivala Rally: In another rally, over 200 members of Madivala community, under the banner of ‘Mysuru Zilla Madivala Sangha’ marched in a    procession from Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple to the DC office demanding inclusion of the community in the SC list.

The rallyists carried a portrait of Madivala Machideva.

Sangha President Chandrashekar Bairy, office-bearers Chennakeshava, S.J. Prashanth and others took part.