Uddhav Thackeray to meet PM Modi in Delhi tomorrow 'to discuss Maratha reservation'

Uddhav Thackeray | File Pic

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and discuss issues like the Maratha reservation and financial aid for cyclone relief measures, state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said on Monday.

The meeting is taking place over a month after the Supreme Court squashed a 2018 law providing reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and education in the state.

Walse Patil told reporters that during the meeting with PM, Thackeray will discuss issues like the Maratha quota, OBC reservation, financial aid for cyclone Tauktae relief measures and GST refund, among others.

According to sources, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and PWD minister Ashok Chavan are prominent among those who will accompany Thackeray during the day-long Delhi trip.

Chavan, a Congress leader, heads the cabinet sub- committee on the Maratha quota. The Supreme Court on May 5 quashed the Maratha quota law passed by the state legislature in November 2018.

Also Read: Maratha quota stir from June 16: Sambhajiraje

A state government constituted committee, headed by Justice (retd) Dilip Bhosale, studied the SC judgement and recommended filing a review petition.

The apex court had termed the state quota law as unconstitutional and held that the Maratha community is not socially and educationally backward.

The SC order also said the Maratha quota breached the 50 per centreservation rule. The SC maintained that as per 102nd constitutional amendment, states have no right to enact reservation law.

The law passed by the state legislature on November 30, 2018, gave 16 per cent quota in jobs and education to the community.

The Bombay High Court, while upholding the law, reduced the quantum of the quota to 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in government jobs.

The state government is of the opinion that the 10 per cent EWS quota law, enacted by the Centre, also breaches the 50 per cent ceiling set by the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, NCP president Sharad Pawar called on Thackeray in the evening.

This was Pawar's second meeting with the chief minister in a fortnight.

The NCP is a key constituent of the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

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