Maratha Reservation: 'Govt Will Take Action Against Perpetrators Of Violence', Says Minister

Samant also urged the protesters "not to resort to violence and refrain from setting fire to the homes of public representatives."

File photo of Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests for the Maratha reservation, Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant on Tuesday said that the state government will take strict action against perpetrators of violence during protests.

Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra government 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. 

Samant told ABP Live, "All Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs have expressed their confidence in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and extended their support to provide reservation for the Maratha community." 

He also urged the protesters "not to resort to violence and refrain from setting fire to the homes of public representatives," adding that the government will take strict action against "criminals involved in violence in the name of opposing Maratha reservation demands."

Maharashtra Industries Minister further stated that CM Shinde "has also appealed to the MPs and MLAs not to resign on the issue of Maratha reservation, as resignations may not solve the problem."

"In today's cabinet meeting, significant decisions were made regarding issuing Maratha-Kunbi caste certificates," he added.

It is to be noted that the caste 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.

"In the all-party meeting scheduled for tomorrow, the Shiv Sena will also appeal to keep politics away from the issue of Maratha reservation," Samant added.