Maratha community, Reservation, Quota, Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra government, Wakilsahab

Source- indianexpress.com

Even as the state government is set to table the report of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on Maratha reservation before the state legislature on Monday, the Maratha community seems to be confused about whether to seek reservation in the existing OBC quota or demand a separate 16 per cent reservation. This, despite Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announcing on Sunday that the community will be given quota through the Socially and Educationally Backward (SEBC) category.

According to sources, the government will table the report before the state legislature for discussion and is also likely to table the draft of the reservation law. “There is a possibility that both the report as well as the draft reservation law will be tabled on Monday itself as the government wants a discussion on them simultaneously so that by the time the session ends, the draft law can become an Act,” said a government official.

On Thursday, N G Gaikwad, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commissioner, had submitted a report to the state government and Fadnavis had said the Maratha community can organise celebrations on December 1, indicating that the commission had given a favourable report regarding reservation.

While the House is slated to take up the issue, leaders from the Maratha community who have been heading the reservation agitation for the past two years seem to have different views on the government’s announcement.

Vinod Patil, a Maratha leader and a petitioner in the case, welcomed the CM’s announcement. “We welcome the decision. We believe that Maratha community should get 16 per cent reservation through a separate category. Therefore, the state government’s announcement is in line with our expectations,” said Patil of the Maratha Kranti Morcha that has been spearheading the reservation agitation for the past two years. The Morcha organised over 50 protest events across the state demanding reservation for the community.

Citing the case of Tamil Nadu, Patil said: “In Tamil Nadu, there is reservation up to 69 per cent. Although the reservation case is pending in the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu government has already started implementing it and people are availing of it. Similarly, the Maharashtra government should increase the quota from the existing 52 per cent to 68 per cent which will still be one per cent less than Tamil Nadu,” he said. Patil said the Maharashtra government has already conferred with the experts and lawyers in Tamil Nadu about the validity of 69 per cent quota. “Therefore, even if it is challenged in the Supreme Court, like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra should be able to defend it,” he said.

However, Shantaram Kunjir, another Maratha community leader, criticised the move. “This is another attempt to deny reservation to the Maratha community. If the government is talking about creating a separate head, then it seems this issue will come to the purview of the central government. If it goes to central government, it won’t happen before the elections as the model code of conduct will come into force after couple of months. Which clearly means, the Maratha reservation is sought to being pushed on the back burner,” he said.

Differing with Patil’s views, Kunjir said the Maratha community should get reservation only through the OBC quota. “The government should increase the OBC quota to 48 per cent by adding 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas,” he said.

Stating that there was confusion in the Maratha community, Patil said: “We want the government to take an appropriate decision. We all are raising one point, the reservation should stand judicial scrutiny.”

Kunjir said only if the OBC quota is increased, it will stand the judicial scrutiny. “Otherwise like it happened during the Congress-NCP rule, the move of giving separate 16 per cent reservation will not stand judicial scrutiny,” he said.

Another Maratha leader, Rajendra Kondhare, however, said the state legislature should discuss the issue threadbare and then come to a united conclusion as to what option should be best adopted.

“They should discuss among themselves and ask the government to get views from a constitutional expert as well so as to take a final decision in this regard. Therefore, I would not like to comment whether the Maratha reservation should be through OBC quota or SEBC category,” he said.

Stating that the Maratha community was determined to hold a gherao of the state legislature on November 26, Kunjir said the government is only talking about reservation but has done virtually nothing on the community’s other demands.

“We have been demanding that the government should give Rs 10 lakh to those innocent youths who died during the agitations and false cases slapped against those during the agitations be withdrawn. Besides, the government has also done nothing except for coming up with various resolutions for the benefit of the Maratha community. Announcements are made, but are not implemented,” he said.