NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil confronted by Maratha quota activists during yatra

A group of Maratha quota activists confronted NCP SP Maharashtra unit chief Jayant Patil and sought the partys stand on the issue of reservations for the community reported news agency PTIThe incident took place during the Sharad Pawarled partys Shivrajya Yatra in Badnapur on Sunday Patil was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Amol Kolhe and MLA Rajesh Tope reported PTIThe Maratha quota activists wanted Patil to make a statement on the partys stand on granting reservations to Marathas in jobs and educationThe NCP SP leader experienced a similar episode in Ghanswanghi which is just a few kilometres away from Antarwali Sarati the epicentre of the Maratha quota stir being led by activist Manoj Jarange reported PTIIn Bhokardan during an event associated with the yatra several people indulged in sloganeering leading to Patil not delivering his speech eye witnesses said reported PTIPatil ended the event by saying Tope had spoken well so there was no need for him to add anything more reported PTIHe also admonished the crowd for indiscipline and said those indulging in such acts were helping BJP leader and former Union minister Raosaheb Danve who hails from BhokardanMeanwhile Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has criticized the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government for its handling of the Maratha reservation issue He claimed that the MVAs failure to present necessary evidence in the Supreme Court led to the rejection of the reservationHe added that instead of granting the reservation the Maha Vikas Aghadi exploited the Maratha community for political gains which he called unfortunateShinde told ANI The Maratha community is socially and educationally backward and economically backward as well When Devendra Ji was in power and I was also part of that government the Maratha reservation was granted and validated by the High Court Unfortunately the government changed and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government came in The Maha Vikas Aghadi failed to present the necessary evidence in the Supreme Court to prove the backwardness of the Maratha community which led to the rejection of the reservationThe same people who had the power to grant the reservation went to the High Court They did not give the reservation but instead used the Maratha community for political purposes This is unfortunateShinde also said that the conflict between OBCs and Marathas is not good for Maharashtra He emphasised that his government aims to benefit the Maratha community without harming the OBC communityWith inputs from PTI and ANI