Congress and Shiv Sena call meeting to discuss Maratha reservation
The move comes a day after Maratha youths declared non-cooperation movement from Wednesday. Maratha outfits have also announced a sit-in protest outside the residences of MPs and MLAs from August 1.
Facing pressure over the Maratha reservation, the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena have called meetings of their legislators to discuss the issue on Monday.
Senior leaders from Congress and NCP will meet governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao separately in the evening, requesting him to issue directives to the state government to resolve the Maratha reservation issue as the situation is going out of control.
The move comes a day after Maratha youths declared non-cooperation movement from Wednesday. Maratha outfits have also announced a sit-in protest outside the residences of MPs and MLAs from August 1.
So far, eight legislators in various parties have said they will resign.
Meanwhile, a shutdown is being observed in Solapur and Nandurbar districts on Monday, following a call from local units of Maratha Kranti Morcha.
Solapur remained tense, officials said, adding that protesters pelted stones on the car of ACP Poornima Chaugule.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the meeting has been called to understand views of the legislators based on which party leadership will take its decision.
Nawab Malik, NCP chief spokesperson said their delegation will first meet the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission chairperson, justice (retd) M G Gaikwad requesting him to submit his report to the government as early as possible. After this, they will meet the governor.
Legally, the Maratha community can be given reservation benefits only if the commission submits a positive report to the state government.
The commission will present the current socio-economic status of the community based on which the government will take its decision. The community has been demanding 16% reservation in government jobs and education.
Sena leaders said party chief Uddhav Thackeray called the meeting at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in suburban Bandra to understand the views of his legislators and to chalk out a course of action.
Party MLAs and ministers were present at the crucial meeting. Sena legislators said that there is a lot of pressure on them from the Maratha community on the MLAs from the community. The Sena has 63 legislators out of which around 40 are from the community.
“We are going to discuss the Maratha quota issue with Uddhavji and seek his guidance. There’s a lot of pressure on us...moving around in the constituencies has become difficult, especially in rural areas. People gherao our party offices and they put garland of chappals (footwear) on our posters,” said Hemant Patil, Sena MLA from Nanded.