Decision on Maratha reservation should be taken in special session of Parliament: Nana Patole

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The Maharashtra Congress on Monday demanded that the Central government should take a decision on Maratha reservation in the upcoming special session of the Parliament and give justice to the entire Maratha community.

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said that the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) government has itself aggravated the issue of giving reservations to the Maratha community.

"The BJP is an anti-reservation party, so they don't want to provide reservation. The BJP has been in power at the center for the past nine years, but they haven't taken any decision regarding Maratha reservations. If the BJP genuinely wishes to grant reservation to the Maratha community, they should take a decision in the upcoming special session of the Parliament and give justice to the entire Maratha community," he said.

While speaking to the media, the Maharashtra Congress chief said if reservations are to be given to the Maratha community and other backward communities, then the current limit of 50 per cent must be removed.

"The authority to remove this limit lies with the Central Government. Although the Centre should remove this restriction, the BJP government at the Centre has not made a decision regarding this. By making false promises to the Maratha and Dhangar communities, the BJP came to power and since then did not grant them reservations. A law for the Maratha reservation was passed hurriedly in the legislative assembly, but it did not stand in the Supreme Court. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had claimed that only he could give reservation to the Maratha community, but even one and a half years after their government came to power, he has not been able to give reservations to the Maratha community," he said.

Nana Patole further said that the tri-party government in the state held another meeting today to address the Maratha reservation issue.

"The government has asked for a month's time, this seems like yet another time-buying tactic. The attempt by the government to deflect criticism of the Maratha reservation on the MVA is laughable. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed to have given a reservation that would stand in court, so why was it struck down by the Supreme Court? Why didn't the BJP govt include the Maratha reservation in the 9th schedule by discussing it with the central government? It's clear that the BJP doesn't want to give reservation," he added.

The Maharashtra Congress chief said that the government hasn't taken any concrete decision even after today's meeting.

"They read out a list of decisions taken for the Maratha community, but not a word was spoken about how the reservation would be given to the Maratha community. Just blaming the opposition won't achieve anything," Nana Patole said.

Maharashtra's Jalna district on Friday saw violence break out as Maharashtra Police lathi-charged with batons on protesters demonstrating for reservation for the Maratha community.

Police had resorted to baton charges and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob that allegedly refused to let authorities shift a man on hunger strike to the hospital.

Around 40 policemen and several protesters were injured and many buses were set on fire during the violence that erupted in Ambad tehsil in Jalna. More than 350 persons have been booked for alleged involvement in the untoward incidents.