The Maharashtra state government is taking a cautious and thoughtful approach to the long-debated Maratha quota issue, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Monday ahead of an all-party meeting. Shinde emphasised that while they are committed to providing a reservation for the Maratha community, it must be legally sound and withstand scrutiny. He stressed that the government will not rush into any decision that might raise questions about its legality and fairness.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of building a broad consensus on how to address the concerns raised by the Marathas and other communities during the upcoming meeting.
"The state government wants to give the Maratha community a reservation that will be foolproof and pass legal scrutiny. We are not making any hasty decisions. The state does not want to shortchange anyone," Shinde told reporters in Mumbai, as quoted by news agency PTI.
He also stressed that it is essential for the government to establish that the Maratha community faces social and educational backwardness while ensuring that other communities' existing quotas remain unaffected.
"The demand for Maratha quota is a social issue and not a political one. I hope opposition parties will come up with some suggestions and avoid politicising the issue," the Chief Minister stated, expressing his expectations for the all-party meeting scheduled for later this evening.
He mentioned that the state government is already providing various benefits and financial assistance to students from the Maratha community, aligning them with other backward communities.
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Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis affirmed the government's commitment to address the demands of various communities without turning the quota issue into a political battleground. He reiterated the government's intent to reach a decision that serves the state's best interests.
"As the head of the state, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called the all-party meeting today. The agenda is to create a broad consensus over the Maratha quota issue. Several organisations have also raised their demands regarding reservations," Fadnavis said, as quoted by PTI.
Regarding the ongoing hunger strike by quota activist Manoj Jarange, who has been fasting for the last 14 days, Fadnavis emphasised the importance of making a decision that would pass legal scrutiny to avoid misleading the community.
Fadnavis also assured that the government would not make any decisions that would create conflict between the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and the Maratha community. Jarange has been advocating for granting all Marathas the Kunbi status, effectively bringing them under the OBC quota.
Talks between the state government and Jarange, who hails from Jalna district, have so far been inconclusive.
Fadnavis stressed the need for responsible leadership from all communities, urging them not to make statements that could hurt the sentiments of any group.
"I want to assure OBCs that no injustice would be done to them," the Deputy Chief Minister added.
"Be it Maratha or any other community, especially after the hunger strike of Manoj Jarange Patil, whatever the issues and demands, the state will try to make decisions for the benefit of communities," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
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