Maratha reservation: Meeting of Maharashtra Cabinet sub-committee tomorrow

Representational Picture

A meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet sub-committee to discuss on providing the reservation to the Maratha community will be held in Mumbai on Monday.

As per a release issued by the state government, the meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted for Maratha Reservation and Facilities will be held on Monday, October 30 in Mantralaya, the government building.

Minister of Higher and Technical Education Chandrakant Patil who is also the Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee informed that the committee will submit a report on the work done so far during the meeting.

In the meeting, Justice Sandeep Shinde (retd) will discuss the statutory and administrative examination of the mandatory evidence and documents required in the process of giving the Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha caste certificate to the Maratha community in Marathwada and also to prescribe the procedure for giving the Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha caste certificate to the Maratha community after the inspection, the release mentioned.

Manoj Jarange Patil, who works as a coordinator for the Maratha Morcha, is on a hunger strike unto death demanding reservation for the Maratha community. He has held extensive talks with the Maharashtra government but a breakthrough is yet to be achieved.

Jarange Patil has demanded a change in the ordinance issued by the state government regarding Maratha reservations. Their stand is that the fast to death will continue unless the desired change is made in the ordinance.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said the state government should be given time to resolve the issue of reservation for Marathas and that the Eknath Shinde-led state government is committed to it.

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Talking to reporters during a visit to Jawhar taluka in Palghar district on Saturday night, Bawankule asked all political parties to support Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in resolving the issue of reservation.

The Maratha youth have been agitated, but the government should be given time as it is committed to facilitate reservation for the community, he said.

An indefinite hunger strike by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange in Jalna district has galvanised the Maratha community that has been demanding quota under the OBC category in government jobs and education.

Bawankule said every party, including the BJP, was supporting the Maratha community's demands.

He appealed to members of the Maratha community not to resort to non-violence. In a democracy, every one has got the right to agitate, but in a peaceful manner, he added.

Bawankule said the reservation should be given but not at the cost of other communities.

At a time when all the political parties are supporting their (Maratha community's) demands, what is the use of "gaon bandi¿ (banning entry of politicians in some villages), he asked. (With inputs from agencies)