Mumbai, Jul 24 (PTI) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today came out in support of the Maratha community protesting for reservation in government jobs and education.

The party said tomorrow's Mumbai bandh, called by Maratha outfits to push for their reservation demand, should be observed peacefully.

"The government can omit Maratha families having high income from the ambit of reservation, but there is a sizeable population in the Maratha community that needs such an affirmative action," Ashok Dhawale, a Central Committee member of the CPI(M), told reporters here.

Calling for maintaining peace, he said, "Tomorrows bandh should be observed peacefully."

While giving reservation to the Marathas, the state government should not encroach upon the existing quotas for other communities, he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)