Maharashtra Government’s Commitment to Maratha Reservation Under Legal Scrutiny

Maharashtra Government's Commitment to Maratha Reservation Under Legal Scrutiny

VoM News Desk | October 23, 2023 | 07:04 PM IST | Breaking News | Follow on Google News

Maharashtra Government’s Commitment to Maratha Reservation Under Legal Scrutiny

Maharashtra Government’s Commitment to Maratha Reservation Under Legal Scrutiny

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has affirmed the Maharashtra government’s unwavering commitment to granting reservation to the Maratha community. However, he emphasized the need for a cautious approach to ensure that any allocation stands up to legal and constitutional scrutiny. This statement by Fadnavis comes just before the expiration of an ultimatum issued by activist Manoj Jarange, who had urged the government to declare a quota for Marathas under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

Balancing Speed and Legality in Reservations

Fadnavis, a senior BJP leader, expressed concerns about hastily making decisions regarding reservations in education and government jobs. He warned that such decisions might not withstand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court, which could lead to unfavorable consequences. Fadnavis emphasized Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s commitment to ensuring that any reservation for the Maratha community must be legally and constitutionally sound.

He further explained that a rushed decision could result in the court striking it down, potentially causing the government to face criticism for not abiding by legal protocols.

Maratha Community’s Demand for Restructuring the Backward Classes Commission

In response to the Maratha Kranti Morcha’s demand for the restructuring of the state Backward Classes Commission, Fadnavis stated that Chief Minister Shinde would address this issue. He assured that any necessary vacancies in the commission would be filled. Fadnavis also pointed out that during his tenure, the previous government had successfully implemented Maratha reservations, which were upheld by the Bombay High Court.

Commitment to Maratha Reservation Continues

Fadnavis highlighted that the Supreme Court had never issued a stay order on the Maratha community’s reservation during the BJP-led government’s tenure in Maharashtra from 2014 to 2019. Despite political changes and developments since then, Fadnavis stressed the current government’s commitment to delivering the reservation to the Maratha community, emphasizing that they were dedicated to seeing it through.

Community’s Ultimatum and Ongoing Protests

The situation surrounding the Maratha quota has become increasingly significant in Maharashtra politics. Activist Manoj Jarange had previously threatened to go on a fast-unto-death protest from October 25 if the government did not grant the Maratha community a reservation by a specified deadline. He also expressed the community’s resolve not to allow political leaders, including MPs and MLAs, to enter villages across the state until the reservation demand was met.

The issue gained prominence when, during Jarange’s hunger strike in September, supporters were allegedly lathi-charged by the police at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, adding fuel to the ongoing debate and protests.

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VoM News Desk

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