CM THACKERAY TO MEET PM OVER MARATHA QUOTA TODAY

MUMBAI: Chief minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray is set to meet Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi over the Maratha reservation issue on Tuesday. The state is expected to request the PM for Centre’s intervention in the issue to give reservation to the Maratha community which was struck down by the Supreme Court last month.

The delegation comprising deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, public works minister Ashok Chavan is also expected to raise a few other demands including financial aid to the state for damages caused by Cyclone Tauktae and release of the pending GST compensation, said a senior Shiv Sena minister.

Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Thackeray held parleys with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday evening.

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is facing ire of Maratha community outfits after the quota was quashed by the Apex court on May 5. Various outfits have announced, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and Maratha leader Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati has announced a statewide stir from June 16. Another Vinayak Mete, Maratha leader and chief of Shiv Sangram Party which supports the BJP, has begun to hold rallies under Maratha Kranti Morcha banner from Saturday.

To pacify the community, the state is tapping every possible option on legal and administrative grounds. “The delegation led by CM Thackeray, comprising deputy CM Ajit Pawar, PWD minister Ashok Chavan and chief secretary Sitaram Kunte will discuss issues like reservation to Marathas, other backward classes (in election), relief package for the cyclone-hit districts and dues towards GST compensation,” said home minister Dilip Walse Patil.

The state is expected to request the Centre to clear the air on the powers of states on ascertaining backwardness of any community. The Centre has already filed a review petition of the SC order in this regard.