‘Ready to fight for Marathas in HC’

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state was prepared to fight the legal battle for Maratha reservation in the Bombay high court. The

MUMBAI: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state was prepared to fight the legal battle for Maratha reservation in the Bombay high court. The CM said the government’s approach towards the demands raised by the community was positive and they are hopeful of finding a way to address them.

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“We have been very sensitive about the demands raised by the community. An open-minded thought is being given to the issue. I had a meeting with all party leaders at Varsha in Mumbai recently. We are prepared to fight the case in the Bombay high court and the government will press for the reservation during the hearings starting October 12. I am sure we will be able to come up with a solution,” Fadnavis said.

Although the Fadnavis-led government tried to pacify the community by holding a cabinet meet in Marathwada, it is unlikely to help the government. There could be more trouble in the offing for the government, which is already under pressure from various communities.

Meanwhile, 3,000 members of the dhangar community were seen on the road leading to the divisional commissioner’s office. “We have been betrayed not only by the chief minister, who had assured us the reservation as Scheduled Caste in the election campaign in 2014, but by two ministers from our community too (Mahadev Jankar and Ram Shinde),” said Bharat Sonnar, president of Yashwant Sena.

At least 20 organisations and groups representing various communities held protest rallies at Aam Khaas Maidan, about 500m away from the divisional commisioner’s office, where the cabinet meeting was held. Moreover, thousands of teachers from partially aided schools protested against non-payment of grants. A union of students preparing for civil services and the Congress too, staged a protest at the ground.