New Delhi: Amid protests for Maratha quota, Shiva Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday slammed the Maharashtra government for using force on the protestors in Jalna district and called the government "shameless." He accused the state government of playing a blame game rather than taking responsibility for the incident. 


His remarks came hours after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed regret over the incident and said that the lathicharge order was not given by any top official to the Jalna Police last week.


Speaking at an event, Thackeray said, " I had gone to Jalna to meet protesters...This state government is shameless. They have brutally beaten everyone including women. Now they are not taking responsibility and playing the blame game. This government is sending the message that if anyone protests for justice we will break their head."




Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra government, which is under for lathi-charge on the protestors, held a high-level meeting on the Maratha reservation chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, reported ANI.


"Lathicharge by Police was not right... I am apologising on behalf of the Government. CM has said that the action will be taken against those who are responsible for it," Fadvanis said at the meeting.


Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told reporters that a high-level meeting was held and the issue of providing reservation to the Maratha community was taken up. "In the high-level meeting today, discussion on providing reservation to the Maratha community was taken up. Govt is working seriously towards it. Maratha community should get a reservation, that is what the Govt believes," he said.

 


Shinde said that a committee will submit its report within a month on how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from Marathwada region. Kunbis, the community associated with agriculture, are grouped under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra.


Earlier on Friday, police used baton charges and tear gas shells to disperse the mob in Antarwali Sarathi hamlet in Jalna district after demonstrators allegedly refused to let officials transfer a man on hunger strike for Maratha quota to a hospital.


Several people, including 40 police officers, were injured and more than 15 ST buses were set fire in the ensuing rioting.