After studying the Backward Class Commission's findings, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told the assembly on Tuesday that a special session of the state legislature will be summoned in February 2024, if required, to offer reservation to the Maratha community, news agency PTI reported. He was speaking at a discussion about the reserve problem, describing the government's actions thus far. Opposition MLAs, on the other hand, believed that the promise was insufficient and staged a walkout from the House.
"The Justice Shinde Committee set up on the issue of Maratha quota has submitted its report to the state government. The report of the Maharashtra Commission for Backward Classes will be submitted in a month. After reviewing it, if required, we will convene a special session of the legislature in February to provide reservation to the Maratha community," the chief minister was quoted by PTI in its report.
"The state government will establish that the Maratha community is socially and educationally backward (and hence deserves reservation in government jobs and admissions to educational institutions)," he said.
Following the CM's statement, opposition MLAs stormed out in protest.
According to Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, the response was a sham, and Shinde did not provide any tangible assurances or take a firm posture, which was required before December 24.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, senior Congress leaders Prithviraj Chavan, Ashok Chavan, and Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu, and others talked to the media on the Vidhan Bhavan premises following the vote.
According to Wadettiwar, the chief minister's response was dishonest, as there was no clear pledge, nor did the government provide a timetable for addressing the situation.
The government would announce anything definitive on December 24, the day by which it had previously pledged to address the matter, the Congress leader said, adding that the Shinde administration had left the Marathas, OBCs, and Dhangar community high and dry.
Wadettiwar alleged that the administration planned to postpone the matter until the elections were declared and then use the model code of conduct as an excuse.
Congress leader Ashok Chavan reiterated the government's argument that it sought to drag the issue out until the code of conduct was in effect.
He remarked that the Opposition listened to the CM's response calmly and without interruption.
"We all were anxious and expecting that the state government will make clear its stand on the Maratha reservation before December 24. We cooperated with the government, and we wanted to put forth our stand on the issues raised by the government. But, we were not allowed to speak and the Speaker did not act in an impartial manner," the former chief minister said.
According to NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jayant Patil, the chief minister has not responded to the critical problems made by the opposition and has failed to make a decision by December 24. He claimed that the discussion of a special session was a sham.
While certain members of the Maratha community, such activist Manoj Jarange, advocate for the community's inclusion in the OBC category, OBC leaders, including senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal, reject the notion.
Marathas Won't Wait Till February For Quota, Says Jarange
Manoj Jarange, a Maratha quota campaigner, reiterated his commitment to the Maharashtra government's December 24 deadline, threatening to initiate protests if the reservation is not provided before the deadline.
He was replying to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's declaration in the legislative assembly regarding conducting a special session if necessary to provide quota 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 informed reporters in Antarwali Sarathi village.
He stated that the protest strategy would be announced at a gathering in Beed on December 23.