Maratha quota issue: Shiv Sena (UBT) seeks time from President, demands special session of Parliament

Vinayak Raut. Pic/X@Vinayakrauts

Maratha quota issue: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut has written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking time to meet her and demand a special session of Parliament to discuss the issue of reservation for Maratha and Dhangar communities, reported news agency PTI.

The letter, dated October 31, states that an 11-member delegation led by Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut wants to meet the president on November 5 or 6, reported PTI.

Marathas are demanding reservation in government jobs and education under the OBC category, while the Dhangar (shepherd) community wants the ST (Scheduled Tribe) status, reported PTI.

On Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded a special session of Parliament and said that the issue can be resolved by the Centre, reported PTI.

He said all Union ministers from Maharashtra should raise the reservation issue in the cabinet meeting, reported PTI.

Uddhav Thackeray also urged the Union ministers to resign if the (Maratha reservation) demand is not met.

Incidents of violence erupted in parts of Maharashtra over the past few days with the Maratha quota supporters vandalising the residences and offices of some politicians.

Activist Manoj Jarange has been on a fast since October 25 at his Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district to demand Maratha reservation.

Meanwhile, activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday reiterated that he will stop drinking water from this evening if his demand for reservation to the Maratha community is not fulfilled by the Maharashtra government, reported PTI.

Leaders of all parties should ask the Maharashtra government to call a special session of the state legislature and give reservation to the Maratha community, Jarange who has observing fast at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district since October 25, told reporters, reported PTI.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called an all-party meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the state amid the intensified Maratha quota agitation which took a violent turn in some parts of the state.

Shinde will apprise opposition leaders of the government's plans to handle the situation and seek their support, an official in the Chief Minister's Office earlier said, reported PTI.

"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 said, reported PTI.

He also noted that some Maratha quota agitators were detained by the police at Kej in the violence-hit Beed district, but have now been released, reported PTI.

"I will still take a review of this," he said.

Jarange also hit out at the ruling BJP leaders over some of their statements on the Maratha quota agitation, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)