Maratha reservation: CM Eknath Shinde to attend state cabinet sub-committee meeting today

Eknath Shinde. File Pic

The meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation is slated to take place on Monday at 12 pm, the Chief Minister's Office informed, reported news agency ANI.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will also attend the meeting, the CMO added.

Earlier on Saturday, CM Eknath Shinde said that the state government was committed to providing reservations to the Maratha community.

Speaking on the Jalna incident where a clash broke out between police and protesters demanding reservation for the Maratha community, Eknath Shinde said, "In November 2014, when the coalition government was in power under the leadership of then CM Devendra Fadnavis, the government announced the Maratha reservation. The High Court also upheld the Maratha reservation decision taken by the government. But the Supreme Court took a different decision. Everyone knows that this is due to someone's negligence...The issue of the Maratha Reservation is currently in the court. The state government is fully prepared to fight this case in court...There are some difficulties, and the state government is trying to resolve them."

CM Eknath appealed to people to be careful of those who wanted to take political mileage from the situation.

"I appeal to the Maratha community, who have so far expressed their feelings very sensibly and calmly, with folded hands, to exercise restraint and not take the law into their hands," he said.

"I had a conversation with the leader of this movement, Jarange Patil. Meetings were also held under my chairmanship regarding their demands. Action was being taken by the government on their demands. However, the movement started even after that. I had requested Jarange Patil to withdraw the agitation but the protest still continued," Eknath Shinde said.

However, during protest time, the condition of Jarange Patil deteriorated, Collector and SP went there because they were worried about his condition, the CM added.

"They were requesting that Jarange Patil should be admitted to the hospital. However, this unfortunate incident happened at that time. I have also ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident. Also, I have given instructions to treat all the injured in this incident at the government's expense," the CM said.

Earlier on Friday, a clash broke out between police and protesters in Jalna demanding reservation for the Marathas. Police resorted to lathi charges to disperse the protesters.

(With inputs from ANI)