Explorer

Maratha Quota Demand: Why Maharashtra Is Witnessing Violent Protests — All You Need To Know

The demand for reservation for the Maratha community has been a subject of discussion and debate for many years.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests for Maratha reservation, the Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced that it will begin action on the long-standing demand of the Maratha community for Kunbi caste certificates, which make them eligible for reservation in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. 

The certificates will be issued to the descendants of those recorded as part of the Kunbi sub-caste during the pre-independence Nizam era to enable them to get quota under the OBC category. The decision was taken to pacify the Maratha community following violent reservation protests.

The government accepted the first report of a committee chaired by retired high court judge Sandeep Shinde. The committee was established to determine the procedure for granting Kunbi caste certificates specifically to Marathas in the Marathwada region.

Why Was There Fresh Protests?

Activist Manoj Jarange launched a fresh round of agitation to demand reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. Jarange had been on an indefinite fast in pursuit of quota rights for the Maratha community.

Several incidents of violence had also erupted in various parts of the state in relation to this demand.

Jarange had observed a hunger strike in this village in September this year, however, he had withdrawn the protest giving an ultimatum of 40 days till October 24 to the government for the grant of quota.

Who Are The Marathas?

The Marathas, historically referred to as ‘warriors’, are a group of clans comprising peasants and landowners, among others. They constitute about 33 per cent of the state’s population. 

The demand for reservation for the Maratha community has been a subject of discussion and debate for many years. The Marathas have sought reservation in education and government jobs based on their social and economic conditions.

Around four decades ago in 1982, Mathadi Labour Union leader Annasaheb Patil first started the Maratha quota agitation in Mumbai. Since then, the Maratha reservation has become an integral part of politics in the state.

The Maratha Mahasangh and the Maratha Seva Sangh organized a strong movement for the Maratha reservation in 1997.

In the run-up to the 2014 Assembly elections, the Congress-NCP government led by Prithviraj Chavan brought an ordinance pronouncing 16 per cent reservation to Marathas in government jobs and education. 

However, the decision was soon challenged in the Bombay High Court which stayed the decision.

Maratha Quota Under Fadnavis Govt

Two years later in 2016, the Kopardi rape and killing of a 14-year-old girl rocked Maharashtra. During this time, the rape-cum-murder incident triggered an outrage among the community whose members took to streets and vented their anger against the stringent SC/ST Atrocities Act (the accused were Dalits) and demanded justice for the victim.

The demand for justice in the rape-murder case was coalesced with the large issue of Maratha reservation and the agitation attracted widespread attention.

The Maratha Kranti Morcha orchestrated a series of massive rallies and protests demanding reservation in education and government jobs.

The Fadnavis government constituted the State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) in June 2017 to study the social, financial, and educational status of the Maratha community. The commission submitted its report in November 2018.

The same month, based on the findings of the commission, the government gave its nod for reservation to Marathas under a special provision — Socially and Educationally Backward Class Act.

However, the Bombay High Court reduced the quota to 12 per cent from 16 per cent originally proposed.

Maratha Quota In Supreme Court

The Bombay High Court judgment upholding the law was challenged in the Supreme Court in 2019.

In May 2021, the Supreme Court struck down Maharashtra's Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, which granted reservation to the Maratha community, for violating the 50 per cent ceiling.

View More
Advertisement

IPL Auction 2025

Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Virat Kohli
₹21 CR
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.50 CR
Phil Salt
₹11.50 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rishabh Pant
₹27 CR
Nicholas Pooran
₹21 CR
Ravi Bishnoi
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 CR
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 CR
Hardik Pandya
₹16.35 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23 CR
Pat Cummins
₹18 CR
Abhishek Sharma
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
₹18 CR
Ravindra Jadeja
₹18 CR
Matheesha Pathirana
₹13 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 CR
Arshdeep Singh
₹18 CR
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Sanju Samson
₹18 CR
Yashaswi Jaiswal
₹18 CR
Riyan Parag
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 CR
Rinku Singh
₹13 CR
Varun Chakaravarthy
₹12 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rashid Khan
₹18 CR
Shubman Gill
₹16.50 CR
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Axar Patel
₹16.50 CR
KL Rahul
₹14 CR
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 CR
View all
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

As Race For Maharashtra CM Post Heats Up, Eknath Shinde Upset Over BJP's 'Claim' For Top Post: Sources
As Race For Maharashtra CM Post Heats Up, Eknath Shinde Upset Over BJP's 'Claim' For Top Post: Sources
Schools In Delhi-NCR To Go In Hybrid Mode After Supreme Court Directive On Air Pollution
Schools In Delhi-NCR To Go In Hybrid Mode After Supreme Court Directive On Air Pollution
PAN 2.0 Announced: Do You Need To Change PAN Number? Will It Be Free? All Your FAQs Answered
PAN 2.0 Announced: Do You Need To Change PAN Number? Will It Be Free? All Your FAQs Answered
Rashmi Shukla Reappointed As Maharashtra DGP After Mahayuti Win
Rashmi Shukla Reappointed As Maharashtra DGP After Mahayuti Win
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

FIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman, Statement Released Amidst ControversyFIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman and Local MLA's Son in Controversial CaseSambhal Violence Sparks Political Firestorm, Congress MP Imran Masood's Strong Remarks | ABP NewsBreaking News: SP Leader Ram Gopal Yadav Reacts to Sambhal Violence | ABP News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget