Fadnavis: Committed to Maratha quota

Three linked to Maratha protest violence arrested in Goa

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said yesterday his government was committed to granting reservation to the Maratha community which stands legal scrutiny as three linked to Maratha protest violence arrested in Goa.

The assurance came when he met 22 prominent personalities from the community here to discuss the issue, after which a joint appeal was issued for exercising restraint and maintaining peace.

Noted actors Sayaji Shinde and Amol Kolhe, well-known art director Nitin Desai, Shirdi temple trust chairperson Suresh Haware and water conservation activist Popatrao Pawar were among the prominent personalities who attended the meeting. The Maratha community, which constitutes around 30 per cent of the state’s 120 million population, have been agitating for reservation in jobs and education.

Over the last two weeks, the agitation has turned violent at a number of places and at least six pro-quota people have committed suicide.

Fadnavis held deliberations with artistes, writers, intellectuals from the community for nearly three hours to discuss the quota stir.

“Various short-term and long-term measures to provide relief to the community were discussed,” he said after the meeting. “Everybody present gave valuable suggestions. We put forward to them the steps being taken by our government,” the chief minister said. His government was committed to granting reservation which stands legal scrutiny, he added. “An appeal has been made to prevent violence during agitation,” Fadnavis said. A joint statement issued after the meeting said the demand of the Marathas for quota was justified. In the appeal, the proquota protesters were urged not to indulge in violence of take the extreme step of suicide.

The statement also said that immediate steps should be taken to give reservation to the community at the earliest which will stand legal scrutiny.

Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, Education Minister Vinod Tawde and other ministers were present along with Fadnavis.

PTI ■ Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with other BJP legislators arrives to attend a meeting on the Maratha reservation issue in Mumbai yesterday.