Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday convened a meeting of leaders of all parties in Mumbai to discuss the agitation demanding reservation in education and jobs for the Maratha community. He said all state parties had the same opinion on providing reservations to the community.
Fadnavis said the state government had framed a law to provide reservation to the Marathas and had even passed an ordinance to the effect. However, the Bombay High Court had stayed it, he said.
“We realised it is a special situation and reservation can be given only on recommendation of Backward Class Commission,” Fadnavis told reporters after the meeting ended. “Unfortunately the commission’s first chairperson passed away and we appointed a new one which took time.”
He said the OBC commission, which has statutory powers to recommend the inclusion of any community in the Other Backward Classes category, has been asked to submit a report soon, after which a special Assembly session will be convened.
“We have decided to take a unanimous stand on the matter,” he added. The chief minister also said that the education department will cancel the registration of those colleges that deliberately try to trouble Maratha students over fee concessions.
Protests erupted in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad and Satara on July 23, leading to the death of a constable and two protestors. The shutdown was called off on Wednesday after Fadnavis said the government had taken cognisance of protests and is ready to talk to the Maratha community. Six MLAs in the state have offered to resign over the reservation row.
Fadnavis appealed for a peaceful situation in the state. “I have instructed the director general of police that cases registered against people participating in the protests should be taken back. Only the serious cases like attacking police personnel or indulging in arsoning will not be taken back,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said reservations for the Maratha community is possible by bringing necessary amendment to the Constitution. “If the Centre is willing, then I can speak to opposition parties to support such an amendment,” he said at a press conference, PTI reported.
‘Don’t want any further discussion with government’: Maratha groups
Maratha organisation Sakal Maratha Samaj said the community does not trust the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state. “They should take a decision, we don’t want any further discussions with them,” the group said on Saturday.
State Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil on Friday had claimed that the government was in possession of an audio clip in which some “big leaders” were allegedly caught conspiring to disturb the peace in the state in the garb of Maratha stir. The chief minister has also made the same allegation earlier.
Responding to this, the Maratha group demanded an apology from Fadnavis and Patil. “We also demand Rs 50 lakh compensation for families of deceased and action against cops who baton-charged women. If these demands are not men, we will launch ‘jail bharo andolan’ from August 1,” the group said.
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