The BJP-Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra has called for an all-party meeting in Mumbai on Monday to address the Maratha reservation issue, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Meanwhile, the Sakal Maratha Morcha — backed by Sambhaji Brigade — called for a ‘bandh’ in Maharashtra’s Thane city to condemn police’ lathi-charge action against the Maratha quota agitators in Jalna district. Local leaders from the opposition parties in the state have declared support to the bandh.
Pawar, while addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur said that several people from the Maratha community were rich but many were poor and needed help. “While giving the reservation to the Maratha community, it must be ensured that Other Backward Classes are not affected. Only discussions and meetings will solve this issue,” he said.
“An all-party meeting is called in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the quota issue,” Pawar noted.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the face of the protest, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange — who has been on a hunger strike for the last 13 days — has given up on water and intravenous (IV) fluids. He has been on the strike demanding Kunbi status, which effectively means OBC quota, for all Marathas.
Latest Updates
– Maha CM Appeals to Activist Jarange to End Protest
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has appealed to — face of the protest — Manoj Jarange to end the protest. “The government is by the side of the Marathas,” Shinde emphasised.
“We want a permanent solution to the issue. A solution that will stand the test of time,” the chief minister said. He added that this is a curative petition to the Supreme Court and that the state government is working on the issue.
– OBC Reservation to Remain Untouched: Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government will not take any steps to impinge on the reservation of OBCs, adding that, the OBC reservation will remain untouched.
“Today’s meeting is to build consensus on the Maratha reservation,” Fadnavis said. He added that there is no intention to pit two communities against each other.
– Police Detains Some Protestors, Latter Claims Even BJP Supports Bandh
The police have detained some of the protestors and have taken them to the Thane police station. Meanwhile, the protestors have claimed that all leaders from NCP, Shiv Sena (UT) and even BJP are supporting the bandh, it is only the Eknath Shinde faction that has not supported them.
– Protestors Demand Shutting of Shops, Ask Auto Drivers to Stay Off Road
Protestors have asked shops to be shut for the bandh today in Thane while also asking auto drivers to stay off the road. Police personnel have been deployed at different locations.
– All Party Meeting Called by State Govt
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that an all party meeting has been called in Mumbai to address the Maratha quota row.
He said that several people from the Maratha community were rich but many were poor and needed help.
– Sakal Maratha Morcha Calls for Thane Bandh Today
Sakal Maratha Morcha — backed by Sambhaji Brigade — called for a ‘bandh’ in Maharashtra’s Thane city to condemn police’ lathi-charge action against the Maratha quota agitators in Jalna district. Local leaders from the opposition parties in the state have declared support to the bandh.
At a meeting of the opposition parties on Saturday, local leaders declared their support for the bandh and appealed to citizens of Thane to participate in it.
The NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) city unit president Suhas Desai, his Shiv Sena (UBT) counterpart Pradeep Shinde, MNS leaders Ravindra More, Avinash Jadhav, Maratha Kranti Morcha’s city chief Ramesh Ambre and Congress’ city president Vikrant Chavan attended the meeting.
– Five-Member Delegation to Hold Talks With Maha CM
In the meantime, a five-member delegation left for Mumbai to hold talks with Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The five-member delegation which included Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Arjun Khotkar, divisional commissioner Madhukar Rajeardad, the sarpanch of Antarwali Sarati village and two quota activists flew to Mumbai from Aurangabad airport in the evening, Khotkar told PTI.
The state government on Thursday issued a Government Resolution (GR) saying that Kunbi caste certificates would be issued only after the Maratha community members from the Marathwada region provide genealogical records from the Nizam era. The region was once a part of the Nizam-ruled Hyderabad state
What Happened? What’s The Protest About? | All You Need to Know
The protestors, spearheaded by Manoj Jarange, had been staging a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community at Jalna since August 29. The reservation in jobs and education provided by the state government to the Maratha community was quashed by the Supreme Court in May 2021, citing the 50 per cent ceiling on total reservations among other grounds.
Following this on September 1, the protest turned violent as protestors resorted to stone-pelting, leaving at least over 40 police officers injured. Police used lathi-charge to disperse the crowd and even fired teargas shells at a mob at Antarwali village in Dhule-Solapur.
Police had booked over 360 persons in the matter. A senior police official said, “An offence was registered at Gondi police station in Jalna against 16 agitators, who have been identified, and around 350 others for their involvement in violence.”
The case was filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307 (attempt to murder), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and others, he said, PTI reports.
In the protest violence — other than the injured police officer — some private vehicles and at least 15 state transport buses were vandalised and torched in the violence that broke out during the protest.
(With inputs from Yesha Kotak)