The resolution noted that the leadership of both the parties (Congress and NCP) had used the community as a vote bank.
Before the 2014 state Assembly elections, the then Congress-NCP dispensation had approved 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and five per cent for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions. The decision, however, was challenged in the court, where it is pending.
The “silent marches” taken out by the Maratha Kranti Morcha around Maharashtra to highlight their demands have elicited huge response, creating ripples in state politics.
According to observers, all main parties — BJP, Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP — are unnerved by the turnout at the rallies, highlighting demands like reservation in job and educational institutions, though the immediate trigger being the rape and murder of a girl from the community at Kopardi in Ahmednagar.
More than 20 rallies have already taken place across the state over the last one-and-a-half months.
Danve had yesterday said that a resolution supporting the demand of Maratha reservations would be discussed and adopted at the state executive meeting.
He had rejected the allegation of Congress and NCP that BJP government could not present its stand on the Maratha quota before the High Court adequately.
The previous Congress-NCP government issued the ordinance giving reservations to Marathas and Muslims with an eye on the Assembly polls, and that was the reason the ordinance did not stand up to the court’s scrutiny, Danve had said.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
