We’re OK with reservation for Marathas: Govt
The community’s silent protests are backed by hardline, anti-Brahmin organisations that are politically active in Maharashtra for more than two decades.
Thestate government is all set to back the Maratha community’s demand for reservation when the matter comes up before the Bombay High Court today. The issue of reservation is one of the main contentions of the community, which has rattled the Devendra Fadnavis government with silent protests across the state for the last several months.
The state social welfare minister, Rajkumar Badole, told Mumbai Mirror on Thursday that the chief minister had already given a consent to support reservation for the Maratha community.
The community’s latest silent protest – on Wednesday – was held in Baramati, former CM Sharad Pawar’s hometown. The protests began after the rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district in July. Apart from demanding stern action against the Kopardi culprits, the community has demanded reservation and scrapping of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Political observers said that the Fadnavis government’s decision to bat for the Marathas is nothing but compulsion politics. “The BJP-led government underestimated the Marathas, who constitute 33% of the state’s population. The silent marches have rattled the government, and Fadnavis, himself a brahmin, realised that he was on a sticky wicket,” a political observer said.
On Sunday, Fadnavis had set the ball rolling by speaking publicly on the matter. “Our government is committed to solve the issue. I assure you that amicable solution will be found out with the help of all,” the CM had said while addressing a gathering of Mathadi workers in Turbe. “Government’s view is that the Maratha community should get reservation. Hence, even when there is a stay by the court, our government has passed an Act regarding it. Now, even when the matter is subjudice, evidences are being placed before the courts,” he said.
The Supreme Court had refused to hear a plea on the matter, but allowed the petitioner to approach the Bombay High Court for “expeditious” hearing of the case.
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The state social welfare minister, Rajkumar Badole, told Mumbai Mirror on Thursday that the chief minister had already given a consent to support reservation for the Maratha community.
“We have no problem whatsoever in the community being granted reservation, but that is for the court to decide. On our part, we will tell the high court that the Maratha community deserves reservation as it has been left behind economically and socially,” Badole said.
The community’s latest silent protest – on Wednesday – was held in Baramati, former CM Sharad Pawar’s hometown. The protests began after the rape and murder of a Maratha girl at Kopardi in Ahmednagar district in July. Apart from demanding stern action against the Kopardi culprits, the community has demanded reservation and scrapping of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Political observers said that the Fadnavis government’s decision to bat for the Marathas is nothing but compulsion politics. “The BJP-led government underestimated the Marathas, who constitute 33% of the state’s population. The silent marches have rattled the government, and Fadnavis, himself a brahmin, realised that he was on a sticky wicket,” a political observer said.
On Sunday, Fadnavis had set the ball rolling by speaking publicly on the matter. “Our government is committed to solve the issue. I assure you that amicable solution will be found out with the help of all,” the CM had said while addressing a gathering of Mathadi workers in Turbe. “Government’s view is that the Maratha community should get reservation. Hence, even when there is a stay by the court, our government has passed an Act regarding it. Now, even when the matter is subjudice, evidences are being placed before the courts,” he said.
The Supreme Court had refused to hear a plea on the matter, but allowed the petitioner to approach the Bombay High Court for “expeditious” hearing of the case.
