Nagpur: A special session of State Legislature is going to be convened in the month of February to fulfil the commitment made to Maratha community about granting them reservations.
Making the announcement on Tuesday in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, during a reply to debate on the issue, also informed the House that prior to that, a report of the State Backward Class Commission was expected in January. The report would be analysed and thereafter resolution about extending reservations to Maratha community would be tabled in both the Houses of State Legislature.
The Chief Minister’s speech, lasting more than one hour, was punctuated with constant barbs at the then MVA Government for its failure to defend the Maratha reservation issue in the Supreme Court. Also, he repeatedly said there should be no confusion among any section as to the commitment of the Mahayuti Government to fulfil the assurance given to Maratha community.
At the same time, the Chief Minister also reiterated that State would ensure that while granting reservations to Maratha community, the existing reservations of other communities remained intact and there would be no encroachment on their rights, especially the OBCs, who are riled-up over fears about carving out special category in their share of reservations. Similarly, he justified the lengthy exercise, saying that the entire process needs to withstand legal scrutiny and the key element is to establish backwardness of the Maratha community in social, educational and financial sectors.
Meanwhile, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday remained firm on the December 24 ultimatum given to the Maharashtra Government and said protests would be launched if the reservation is not granted before the deadline. He was responding to the announcement made by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the Legislative Assembly about holding a special session to grant quota, if required, after a month.
“We will not wait for reservation till February. We are firm on launching protests from December 24 if the State Government fails to clarify its stance on enacting the law (for quota) and doesn’t issue the order to Collectors for the issuance of Kunbi (OBC) certificates to all Marathas,” Jarange told reporters in Antarwali Sarathi village, the ground zero of the quota stir, in Jalna district.
State Backward Commission report:
The report of State Backward Commission is going to play an important role in fulfilling aspirations of the Maratha community and hence its survey and investigations to establish backwardness of the dominant caste of Maharashtra is the major task ahead. In this light, The Chief Minister appealed to agitating organisations to have little patience and ensure that the social fabric of the State is not disturbed and mainly the law and order situation.
Underscoring the systematic approach of the Mahayuti Government, he said that during the last two-and-a-half months, nearly 30 meetings on Maratha reservations were held. This was done to build unanimity, iron out any shortcomings and to show that this decision was not unilateral in nature. The Chief Minister said that all the parties and organisations were also taken into confidence, where 10 meetings were held under his Chairmanship, 12 meetings of the cabinet sub-committee,2under the Chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and 7 of the Advisory Board led by Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde and Justice (Retd) Dilip Bhosale.
