Marathas want OBC status now; to submit memo to Madhya Pradesh CM, PM Modi

In the wake of Patels of Gujarat demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, the members of Kshtriya Maratha Samaj in Indore have also voiced a similar demand for reservation for their community.

In the wake of Patels of Gujarat demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, the members of Kshtriya Maratha Samaj in Indore have also voiced a similar demand for reservation for their community.

They want the community to be included in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category.

Kshtriya Maratha Navnirman Sena, Madhya Pradesh president Chandrakant Kunjeer, while addressing the media on Monday said that to press for their five-point charter of demands, they are going to gherao the divisional commissioner on September 15 and submit a memorandum addressed to the chief minister and prime minister.

Kunjeer said the Maratha community is extremely backward economically. He claimed that the level of education in the community was not high and their representation in government jobs poor.

He also claimed that there are over 2 crore Marathas in the state and most of them are poor and the women work as domestic helps. He said the agitation would be extended to other parts of the state.

Meanwhile, to protest against the police excesses against the agitating Patels in Gujarat, members of the Patidar community (the Patels are known as Patidars in Madhya Pradesh), took out rallies in Ratlam, Dhar and Agar.

A spokesperson of the community said that police action against the peaceful agitation has led to several deaths and left scores injured. Interestingly, the members of Gujjar Samaj, who are also demanding reservation have also pledged support to the Patidars.