All constitutional obligations for Maratha reservation to be completed by Nov: Fadnavis

Bowing to demands by the Maratha community, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all constitutional obligations in connection with the Maratha reservation in the state would be completed by November.

Maratha Kranti Morcha protesters block a road, as police personnel stand by during their statewide bandh called for reservations in jobs and education, in Navi Mumbai. PTI Photo/ File

MUMBAI: Bowing to demands by the Maratha community, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that all constitutional obligations in connection with the Maratha reservation would be completed by November. He said this during a 15-minute address on state television and radio. The chief minister said that the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) would inform the Bombay High Court on August 7 about when it will submit its report regarding the Maratha quota. The chief minister said that the agitation was justified only if the government was apathetic and claimed that "sincere and genuine" efforts were being made to address the community's grievances which had prevailed for years. "Our government is addressing them sincerely. I appeal to community leaders to monitor schemes implemented in the districts and bring loopholes, if any, to the notice of the government," he said. Fadnavis also took on his critics who have been demanding an ordinance to grant reservations to the Maratha community. "Some are saying promulgate an ordinance and what was the need for the Backwad Class Commission. An ordinance can be promulgated and you will get satisfaction that a decision was taken. However, it won't stand legal scrutiny," he said. "The process of how to ensure justice for Marathas while not impacting reservations for members of the SC/ST communities was being worked out," Fadnavis said. The Marathas are seeking suitable reservations in government jobs and education and the agitation took a violent turn following the death of a youth on July 23 and since then it has seen arson and stone-pelting in several districts of the state. Fadnavis had then said that a special session of Maharashtra Legislature would be convened soon to resolve the Maratha reservation issue. So far, at least eight legislators from various parties including Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and BJP have quit or offered to quit their posts for Maratha reservations. (With inputs from PTI)