Maratha groups have been demanding 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and education. (File Photo/PTI)
In an attempt to put an end to the ongoing Maratha reservation row, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called an all party meeting on Saturday. Earlier this week, Maharashtra witnessed wide-scale violence during bandh (shutdown) called by Maratha groups who are demanding 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and education.
The wave of protests by Maratha groups has put the Fadnavis government in a tight spot. While the BJP has been stressing that the state government is committed to honour the demands of the Maratha community, the Opposition has accused CM Fadnavis doing nothing and letting the situation go out of control.
State BJP chief Raosaheb Danve asserted that the government was serious over fulfilling the demands of the Maratha community and it had already passed an ordinance regarding it. "However, the court had put a stay on the government's decision. We will submit the report of the state Backward Classes Commission to the court and request it to decide on the issue soon," Danve said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamna has questioned both state and central government over the issue. It accused both the Fadnavis and Modi governments of ignoring the demands out up by the Maratha community.
"Why can't CM Fadnavis go to Delhi, meet the Prime Minister and find a solution to the Maratha reservation issue. PM Modi he is not interested in matters related to the state and the country as he is often not in Delhi. To crush protests has become the policy of the government," Saamna said in its editorial.
The Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population, have been demanding 16 per cent reservation. The community has been taking out protest marches across the state to highlight their demands, prominent among them being that of reservation.