01 November,2023 02:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, Sharad Pawar & other leaders/ X
An all-party meeting convened to discuss the Maratha quota issue, chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on November 1, passed a resolution appealing to activist Manoj Jarange to cease his indefinite fast, stated an agency report. The Maharashtra government reaffirmed its support for the Maratha quota during the meeting.
According to the report, Chief Minister Shinde emphasized the need for cooperation between activist Jarange and the government to ensure the Maratha community's quota. He urged Marathas to exercise restraint, acknowledging that legal procedures required time for implementing the reservation, the report added.
Reportedly, the resolution bore the signatures of Chief Minister Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, NCP President Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, and LoP in the legislative council Ambadas Danve, among others.
In recent days, various parts of the state have witnessed instances of violence. State-run bus services have been suspended in five Marathwada districts, and curfew and Internet shutdowns were enforced in parts of Beed, where political leaders' residences were targeted by protesters.
Chief Minister Shinde made an appeal for non-violence, urging political parties to avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation, stated the report.
On Tuesday, the Maharashtra government issued an order directing relevant officials to provide new Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Maratha community members, enabling them to access reservation benefits under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Additionally, a government resolution (GR) mandated the translation, digitization, and public disclosure of old documents containing references to Kunbis, written in Urdu and 'Modi' script.
Kunbis, an agricultural community, fall under the OBC category in Maharashtra, entitling them to reservation benefits in education and government employment.
Activist Jarange, who has been on an indefinite fast in Antarwali Sarati village, Jalna district, demanded complete reservation for the Maratha community. He urged the Maharashtra government to convene a special session of the state legislature to address this issue, and he threatened to stop consuming water from Wednesday evening if full quota demands were not met.
"Leaders of all parties who are in Mumbai should ask the state government to call a special session of the state assembly and declare Maratha reservation. If this is not done, I will quit drinking water from Wednesday evening. The agitation will not stop and will continue peacefully," Jarange was quoted as saying,
With PTI inputs
