Maratha quota: Devendra Fadnavis scrambles for options as first round of talks fail

Jarange also slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for sending former Justice Sandeep Shinde, who heads the committee set up by the state government to expedite the process of granting reservation to the Marathas, to hold parleys with him.

Mumbai: The logjam between the Maratha community led by Manoj Jarange-Patil and the Maharashtra government continued for the second day as the first rounds of talks failed even as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday scrambled for options to combat the situation arising out the Maratha-vs-OBC reservation issue.

“I have started a hunger strike a day ago, if needed I will leave water also,” Jarange-Patil said addressing his supporters at the historic Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

On its part, the MahaYuti-alliance, before the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls, had given 10 per cent quota under the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Act, however, Jarange-Patil has demanded declaration of Marathas as Kunbis, a sub-caste covered under OBCs, which has 27 per cent quota.

At a time when the Maha Yuti enjoys a mammoth majority, the BJP-led alliance will have to keep both Marathas and OBCs under good humour and with the Maharashtra mega civic polls round the corner, the government is walking on a tightrope.

As a first step, the government deputed Justice Sandeep Shinde (Retd), who heads the committee set up by the State government to expedite the process of granting reservation to the Marathas, to hold parleys with him.

"It is not the job of Justice Shinde to issue a Government Resolution announcing grant of reservation to Marathas," Jarange said.

Before Justice Shinde left for talks, the 12-member Cabinet sub-committee headed by Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil met to discuss the situation and work out a solution, however, they they have very few options and one of the major issues to be address is combating caste-conflict.

Jarange-Patil said that the committee under Justice Shinde had studied gazettes related to the issue for the past 13 months and now it was time for the panel to submit its report to pave the way for Marathas to get Kunbi status.

"Marathas in Marathwada must be declared as Kunbis and given reservation. The Hyderabad and Satara gazettes must be made into law for this," Jarange said.

In response, Justice Shinde said he wasn't authorised to give such a report, and added that it was the job of the Backward Classes Commission.

"Caste certificates are given to individuals and not the entire community," the former judge said.

Later, Justice Shinde briefed the Cabinet sub-committee.

On the complaints of the protestors, Vikhe Patil said the issue has been discussed and is being resolved.