MVA set to raise Maratha quota in House, with PM Modi

MUMBAI: The MVA government is cranking up its efforts to secure a Maratha reservation, with attempts to raise the issue in both Houses of Parliament during the ongoing monsoon session and seeking to follow it up with PM Narendra Modi.
Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut (party leader in the LS) has moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha to hold a debate on the Maratha quota issue. His colleague Sanjay Raut said in Delhi they are seeking an appointment with Modi next week after speaking on phone with Thackeray, who suggested meeting the PM to discuss the issues pertaining to the state a month after he had raised them with him.
“We will seek an appointment with PM Modi next week to follow up on Maratha quota and other issues raised by CM Thackeray in a memorandum handed over to him,” said Raut.
Ashok Chavan, state PWD minister and chairperson of the state cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, met Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress’ leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, requesting him to raise the Maratha issue in parliament.
On junior minister Raosaheb Danve’s comment that the Sena leader should study the Maratha issue in detail, Raut said: “If the issue could be sorted out with his coaching, I am ready to take it as he stays nearby. But we don’t need to take coaching from him. They should dare to give quota in government jobs and in education for Marathas first before trying to teach us.” He pointed out that Ashok Chavan, a former CM, discussed some legal aspects related to the reservation issue with him in the morning.
A delegation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by CM Thackeray had met the PM on June 8 to push for demands, including a constitutional amendment to expand reservations beyond the 50% ceiling to accommodate the Maratha quota.