Marathas give Maharashtra govt 30 days, postpone protest

Sakal Maratha Samaj members sit on a protest demanding reservation for the Maratha community, in Kolhapur. File pic

The Maratha community on Monday postponed its state-wide silent protests for reservation and gave the state government a month to act on its demands.

The community's umbrella organisation, Sakal Maratha Samaj, sat on a silent dharna in Nashik on Monday and later in the day announced its decision to postpone the stir.

Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Dada Bhuse, Member of Parliament Bharati Pawar and deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal attended the protest. Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Raje Bhosale, who is spearheading the agitation, said finding a solution was better than creating more disputes.

"We haven't stopped the protest, but we are giving time to act fast on the demands that are related to the state government. We will decide further if the government does not meet the deadline," Bhosale said at a media conference.

Postpone polls

Minister of Social Welfare Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday said he and his senior colleague Bhujbal will not allow elections to the local self-government bodies until the OBCs' political reservation was restored. The quota has been scrapped by the Supreme Court in the matter of five districts, but it seems that the verdict will impact all districts of Maharashtra. The state has decided to move a petition in the SC.

Wadettiwar and Bhujbal are among the leaders with a good following in the OBCs. "Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has given us a positive response when we met him. We've demanded that the polls should not be held without succumbing to any pressure. (In case there is a move to hold the polls), Bhujbal and I will ensure elections are not held," said Wadettiwar.

The minister said he has organised a workshop for all-party OBC leaders in Pune. Panjaka Munde, Chandrashekhar Bawankule of BJP, Nana Patole of Congress, Bhujbal of the NCP, the OBC association leaders and field experts have been invited.