Shinde Warns Against Political Exploitation of Marathi Reservation Protest in Mumbai

Deputy CM Eknath Shinde sounded an alarm on Tuesday, warning that the proposed Maratha reservation march in Mumbai could be weaponised by political actors and external forces. The warning came after Mumbai police refused a permit for an Azad Maidan rally, citing security worries during the city’s most celebrated Ganesh festival. Shinde reiterated that the state respects the right to democratic expression but must also protect public order and the uninterrupted celebration of millions of devotees. He urged Manoj Zarge Patil to adopt a “collaborative” view, pointing out that similar community rallies in the past—58 large‑scale events—were conducted without disturbing traffic or commerce and were praised worldwide. The deputy chief minister stressed that any attempt to exploit Maratha frustration for vote‑bank politics would be counter‑productive and harmful to the community’s genuine aspirations. He outlined the government’s recent legislative actions: a special assembly session to operationalise a 10 % reservation, verification cells in district collector offices, and the issuance of millions of kin‑community certificates. Financial relief measures were also highlighted, including an uplift of interest‑free loan limits to ₹15 lakh and additional benefits aligned with existing OBC welfare schemes such as scholarships and hostel facilities. Shinde concluded by inviting all stakeholders to engage in constitutional dialogue, assuring that the administration will not compromise on the rights of other OBC groups while pursuing Maratha welfare.