Maharashtra govt positive, but stir by Marathas to continue

Sakal Maratha Samaj members protest in Kolhapur on Wednesday. Pic/PTI

Maratha leaders have decided to continue their silent protest demanding the restoration of quota in jobs and education despite the state government's positive response to their demands. The leaders raised their demands during a discussion with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday.

Parliamentarian Sambhaji Raje Bhosale, who led the delegation, told reporters that the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella organisation of the community, will take a final call on stopping the protest on June 21 when the representatives gather in Nashik for the next round of agitation. The Samaj has planned protests in 36 districts of which the inaugural event happened in Kolhapur on Wednesday.

"We're still in talks with the government. We haven't decided to withdraw our protest. However, we will discuss the next course of action in Nashik on June 21," said Bhosale. According to him, the government gave patient listening to the six most important demands on Thursday.

Review petition next week

After having lost the case in the highest court early this year, the government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court next Thursday. Parallel to this, it will work on the empirical data processed by the Gaikwad Commission which gave Marathas a status of socially and educationally backward class (SEBC). Bhosale said the data wasn't translated from Marathi to English for presenting before the SC. "It was a mistake that needs to be corrected immediately," he said.

He said the government has agreed to finance Saarathi, a Maratha-exclusive state-run autonomous body to help the community become economically self-reliant. A separate meeting will be held in Pune this weekend to thrash out details. Existing buildings in 26 districts have been identified to convert into hostels for Maratha students. The Annasaheb Patil Finance Development Corporation will be given a boost to offer a loan of upto Rs 25 lakh to start-ups. "The procedure will be eased because so far only the Marathas who have four-wheelers have benefitted. We want the needy to benefit," said Bhosale.

Marathas have suggested that the government appoint 2,185 people who have cleared the public service examination much before the SC verdict, but were not given appointments in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. "We want them to be absorbed on a supernumerary basis like many other states. The government has sought 14 days to come back to us on this," stated the Rajya Sabha MP. According to him, a committee will be formed to coordinate with the government and CMO on a daily basis, till all demands are met.

Chairman of the government task force for the Maratha issue, Ashok Chavan said the CM requested Sambhaji Raje to stop the agitation because the government wasn't against the community's demands. "CM told the delegation that when the government was positive about dealing with all demands the protest should not be held. He has said that the money will not be a problem for giving facilities to the Maratha community," Chavan said after the meeting.