Maratha Quota Row: Reservation Should Not Mete Out Injustice To Other Communities, Says CM Shinde

Speaking after an all-party meeting, CM Eklnath Shinde said all the members present at the meet agreed to the provision of reservation to the Maratha community.

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde sought time to look into the legal provisions for reservation of the Maratha community members.

Maratha Quota Row: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that the reservation Maratha should be within the framework of the law and should not mete out "injustice" to other communities. Speaking after an all-party meeting, CM Shinde said all the members present at the meet agreed to the provision of reservation to the Maratha community. "However, the reservation should be within the framework of the law and without doing injustice to other communities," he said.

Shinde's comments came after the first Kunbi certificate was issued in Maharashtra's Dharashiv.

He further said: "Time should be given for this; everyone decided this. Whatever unfortunate incidents are happening, everyone has expressed displeasure about them...A committee has been formed of three retired judges... The Backward Class Commission is working on a war footing. Soon, decisions will be taken to give justice to the Maratha community...There is a need to give time, and the Maratha community too should keep patience..."

CM Shinde's comments came on a day when Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange said that the Maratha community will not accept an "incomplete reservation" and that the Maharashtra government should call a special session of the state legislature on the issue. CM Eknath Shinde also called on Jaranage to cooperate with the government in ensuring quota for Maratha community.

Jarange on Wednesday threatened to stop drinking water from today evening if "complete" quota was not granted to the Maratha community. Jarange continues to observe a fast for the Maratha quota demand at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district.

Meanwhile, the Beed administration on Wednesday relaxed the curfew imposed in several pockets of the district due to the Maratha quota protest-related violence. The prohibitory orders will, however, remain in the Marathwada region's district. Internet will also continue to be unavailable in the wake of the law and order situation. So, far 99 people have been arrested on charges of violence related offences.