News Analysis India

Tag: Maratha quota

  • Manoj Jarange: If I’m arrested, crores of Marathas will go on hunger strike: Quota activist Manoj Jarange

    CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Thursday claimed that if he is arrested, crores of Marathas will stage a hunger strike. Talking to reporters at a private hospital in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where he is currently undergoing treatment after ending his fast at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna three days back, Jarange said the Maratha community is fighting for its rights.

    The government still has a chance to implement the “sage soyre” (blood relatives of Kunbi Marathas) draft notification. The community will appreciate it, he said.

    The draft notification was issued in January for issuing certificates to eligible Kunbi (OBC) Marathas. Jarange has reiterated his opposition to the 10 per cent quota granted to the Maratha community recently by the Maharashtra legislature under a special category.

    The activist has been under fire for using intemperate language against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday as he alleged the BJP leader was trying to kill him.

    Assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar on Tuesday directed the state government to set up a special investigation team (SIT) and conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the Jarange’s remarks against Fadnavis. “The Maratha community and I will not give up the demand of quota for the relatives (of Marathas who have Kunbi certificates), even if I am put in jail. It seems the report (of SIT) is about to get ready before the inquiry. No matter wherever they keep me, I am ready to go anywhere,” he said. “I am not greedy even for a single rupee. Let them arrest me. The route by which I will be taken to jail, they (government) will find crores of Maratha community members sitting on hunger strike along the route,” Jarange added.

    The activist claimed nearly 1.5 crore persons have got reservation till now as about 57 lakh records of ‘Kunbis’ have been found so far, and that he has been demanding reservation for the remaining people.

    “They (those in the government) expect that we should talk to them respectfully. When our people are getting arrested without any fault, why should we? What was the reason that curfew was imposed in Antarwali Sarati?” he asked.

    Jarange said the 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community is acceptable if facilities for the SEBC (Social Economic Backward Class) are included in it.

    “This 10 per cent reservation should be included in the OBC quota,” he added.

    On the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi’s proposal that Jarange contest the upcoming Lok Sabha poll from Jalna, the activist said he respects the VBA chief as he has supported their agitation since the beginning.

    “But contesting elections is not my way. I will keep working for my community,” he added.

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  • Maratha quota: Special session of Maharashtra Assembly to commence today, Maratha quota likely on agenda

    The Maharashtra government will hold a special Vidhan Sabha session for one day on Tuesday to hold discussion on the Maratha reservation issue.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stressed on Friday that reservation to Marathas will be given according to the terms of the law after presenting the report in during the special assembly session called for February 20.

    “The survey has been conducted on nearly 2-2.5 crore people… Keeping in mind that the OBC community is not left behind in the process, the government will present the report to the cabinet committee. On February 20, we have called a special session of the assembly, after which the Maratha reservation will be given according to the terms of the law…,” CM Shinde said.The decision to hold the session was taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

    “The cabinet meeting has given its nod to convene a one-day special session of the legislature on Tuesday, February 20, to discuss the various demands of the Maratha community,” a note issued by the Chief Minister’s office stated.

    The decision to convene a special session was prompted by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is on a hunger strike at Antarwali Saarati village in Jalna district.After the Maha Vikas Aghadi meeting, Congress president Nana Patole said that the Maharashtra Assembly session would commence on Monday, adding that the meeting was being held to form a strategy for the session. “The Maharashtra Assembly session commences tomorrow. The system is that they should call the opposition for BAC and discuss the proceedings of the House. However, the BJP government in the state does not want to follow the constitutional process. So, we came together to form a strategy for the session,” Patole told ANI.

    Meanwhile, the political scenario of Maharashtra is fluid as Sharad Pawar lost his party name and symbol.

    Veteran politician Sharad Pawar said on Saturday the Election Commission’s decision to recognise the group led by his nephew Ajit Pawar as the ‘real’ Nationalist Congress Party was “not in accordance with law.”

    Sharad Pawar moved the Supreme Court, challenging the decision of the ECI to officially recognise the Ajit Pawar faction as the real NCP and the use of party symbols.

    The Supreme Court on Monday ordered that the interim order by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that allowed veteran leader Sharad Pawar to use ‘Nationalist Congress Party–Sharad Chandra Pawar’ would continue till further orders.

    On February 6, the poll panel, while applying the test of majority in the legislative wing, ruled that Ajit Pawar’s faction was the ‘real’ NCP and permitted the faction to use the ‘clock’ symbol for the party.

    In its order, the Election Commission noted that the total number of NCP MLAs in the Maharashtra State Assembly stood at 81, and out of this, Ajit Pawar submitted affidavits of 57 MLAs in his support, while Sharad Pawar had only 28 affidavits.

    Hence, the poll panel concluded that the Ajit Pawar faction enjoyed the majority support of the legislators and could lay claim to being the NCP. (ANI)

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  • Kin of 42 activists who died during Maratha quota agitation will get government jobs: Maharashtra Minister Rajesh Tope

    By PTI

    JALNA: The next of kin of 42 persons who died during the agitation for Maratha reservation will be given government jobs, state public health minister Rajesh Tope said here on Saturday.

    He will speak to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in this regard, he said.

    The government has already given compensation of Rs 10 lakh to their families, he told reporters here.

    Maratha organizations carried out a state-wide agitation for quota for the community in jobs and education between 2016 and 2018.

    The state government eventually provided quota for the Marathas, but the law was struck down by the Supreme Court.

  • No BJP MP from Maharashtra said a word on Maratha quota in Lok Sabha: Ashok Chavan

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday said it is unfortunate that no BJP Member of Parliament from the state spoke about the Maratha reservation issue when the Lok Sabha debated a constitutional amendment bill to restore the powers of states to make their own OBC lists.

    Speaking to reporters here, Chavan, who heads a state cabinet sub-committee on Maratha reservation, said an opportunity to relax the 50 per cent cap on reservation in education and government jobs has been missed by the Centre.

    The Congress minister’s comments came after the Lok Sabha passed the ‘The Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021’, that seeks to restore the power of states and Union Territories to make their own OBC lists, with the NDA government getting the support of opposition parties for the legislation.

    He said, “Parliament has been at a standstill on Pegasus or ‘black’ agri laws, but every political party in the opposition cooperated with the Centre and discussed the bill.”

    The former chief minister said the Centre should have also taken steps to remove the 50 per cent cap on reservations.

    “Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar had said the government will consider relaxation on reservation cap at right time. It was the right time to take this decision. How long the Maratha community will continue its legal battle for quota?” Chavan asked.

    “The Union government could have made the Maratha community’s legal battle for reservation easier. Directives were given to Congress members in the Lok Sabha by our leader Sonia Gandhi (for seeking relaxation in quota cap). Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is from West Bengal, but he still stood firm on this issue,” he said.

    During the debate on the OBC bill, several opposition parties, including the Congress, demanded removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservations, while the central government underlined its commitment to social justice.

    “Shiv Sena MPs such as Vinayak Raut, Prataprao Jadhav, NCP MP Supriya Sule and Balu Dhanorkar of the Congress strongly pitched for Maratha reservation. However, not a single MP of the BJP from Maharashtra uttered a word over the issue…this is truly unfortunate,” Chavan said.

    The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Classes, and 342A that deals with the powers of the president to notify a particular caste as an SEBC and the power of Parliament to change the list.

    Article 366 (26C) defines SEBCs.

    The Supreme Court had dismissed the Centre’s plea seeking a review of its May 5 majority verdict that held that the 102nd Constitution amendment took away the states’ power to notify SEBCs for the grant of quota in jobs and admissions.

    In May, the Supreme Court struck down the 2018 Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs, terming it as “unconstitutional”, and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

  • Maratha quota can’t be restored unless 50% cap is relaxed: Sanjay Raut 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said unless the 50 per cent cap on reservations is relaxed, the constitutional amendment on allowing states to prepare their own OBC list will not help and the Maratha quota cannot be restored.

    Talking to reporters here after meeting Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said he discussed the issue and developments regarding it in Parliament with the CM.

    He said state Public Works Department Minister Ashok Chavan will hold a virtual meeting to inform leaders of all political parties about the status of the issue of Maratha quota, which was quashed by the Supreme Court earlier this year.

    The demand for a debate will be raised when the constitutional amendment issue comes up in Parliament, the Rajya Sabha member said.

    “Unless the 50 per cent cap is relaxed, the Maratha quota cannot be restored,” he said.

    The Union Cabinet is learnt to have cleared a Constitution amendment bill that seeks to give power to states and UTs to make their own OBC lists.

    The bill will now be introduced in Parliament for passage, sources said in Delhi on Wednesday.

    The Supreme Court had dismissed the Centre’s plea seeking review of the May 5 majority verdict which held that the 102nd constitution amendment took away the states’ powers to declare socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) for grant of quota in jobs and admissions.

    The Maharashtra government had granted reservation to the Marathas in jobs and education under the SEBC category.

    On May 5, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court had unanimously set aside the quota for Marathas and refused to refer the 1992 Mandal verdict putting a cap of 50 per cent on reservations to a larger bench.

    Raut also said he discussed organisational matters with Thackeray, whose party shares power with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra.

    The Sena leader also said he had briefed Thackeray about his meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on the same day when he met the latter.

    Raut declined to respond to questions about prospects of an alliance between the BJP and the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls due next year.

    He also evaded a reply to a question on whether Rahul Gandhi would visit ‘Matoshree’, the residence of CM Thackeray in Mumbai, when he visits the city on December 28 this year.

    “December is much ahead. Let’s see then,” Raut said.

     

  • Supreme Court dismisses review plea on Maratha quota by Centre

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the Centre’s review petition challenging the court’s interpretation of the 102nd Constitutional amendment in its May 5 judgment that declared the Maratha quota unconstitutional.

    A five-judge Constitution bench said, “The grounds taken in the review petition do not fall within the limited ground on which the review petition can be considered. The various grounds taken in the review petition have already been dealt with in the main judgment.”

    In the May 5 verdict, the court had ruled that as per the Article 342A that was inserted into the Constitution through the 102nd amendment, the Central government alone can identify Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC) and include them in a list to be published under Article 342A (1), specifying the SEBCs in relation to each state and UTs.

    The top court had said that states can only make suggestions under Article 338B for the inclusion, exclusion or modification of castes or communities in the list. However, states’ powers to announce reservations, their quantum, the nature of benefits and all other matters falling within the ambit of Articles 15 and 16 will remain undisturbed, the court had clarified in its verdict.

  • Leaders invited for talks as protest demanding Maratha quota begins

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The Maratha quota issue is all set to heat up Maharashtra politics again as the community launched a state-wide agitation demanding reservation under the leadership of BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati. 

    A silent sit-in protest was held at Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj memorial in Kolhapur on Wednesday that saw participation from MLAs and political leaders cutting across party lines. The state government, however, invited Sambhajiraje for a discussion with CM Uddhav Thackeray. Sambhajiraje, a direct descendant of warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, welcomed the invite and said he and other leaders of the agitation may meet Thackeray in Mumbai on Friday.

    Among the participants in the dharna were Kolhapur guardian minister and Congress leader Satej Patil, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar, state BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and Shiv Sena MP from Kolhapur district Dhairyashil Mane.

    The Supreme Court had earlier termed the Maratha quota announced by the state government as “unconstitutional”. However, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said Sambhajiraje was advised to discuss the quota issue with Thackeray instead of launching the agitation. Earlier this month, Thackeray had met PM Narendra Modi to discuss the matter. 

    Meanwhile, Thackeray has ignored ally Congress’s demand by not implementing the reservation policy in promotions. This latest snub is likely to further strain the ties between the Congress and Shiv Sena. The CM cleared the promotions of 31 deputy secretaries without following the reservation policy. Out of 31 officers, 20 were from the general category.

    Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole and other senior party leaders had met the CM to press for their demand. “Our party president Sonia Gandhi had also earlier written to Thackeray reminding him about the coalition dharma and asked to respect the common minimum agenda. Not implementing reservation in promotion policy means we are neglecting the rights of the reserved class,” a Congress leader said. 

  • Maharashtra government doing everything possible to grant quota to Marathas: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

    By PTI
    PUNE: The Maharashtra government is making “all possible efforts” to grant reservation to Marathas, which was struck down by the Supreme Court, without disturbing the existing quotas of other communities, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Sunday.

    Pawar’s comments came two days after a committee headed by high court judge justice Dilip Bhosale (retired) recommended in its report that the Maharashtra government file a review petition against the apex court’s decision.

    Pawar was speaking to reporters at the Pune Zilla Parishad office on the sidelines of “Shiv Swarajya Din” to mark the anniversary of the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj as “Chhatrapati” in 1674.

    The Maharashtra government has decided to celebrate the coronation day as “Shiv Swarajya Din” by installing ‘gudis’- a colourful silk scarf-like cloth tied at the top of a long bamboo- atop the offices of local bodies, schools, colleges, and houses in the state.

    “We, under the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, are making all possible efforts to grant reservation to the Maratha community which was struck down by the Supreme Court,” Pawar said.

    He said the apex court had raised questions about the MC Gaikwad Commission’s report, which was the basis for the Maratha quota, but some people are still trying to incite the feelings of people.

    Pawar was replying to a question about former MLC Narendra Patil’s statement that a “true Maratha” like him will not remain silent, and if needed, he will strap a bomb to his body and detonate it for the quota cause.

    The Supreme Court had last month struck down the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs, terming it “unconstitutional”, and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

    A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan concurred on three major issues, framed during the hearing, and said the MC Gaikwad commission report which was the basis for the Maratha quota did not highlight any exceptional circumstances for grant of reservation to Marathas.

    “On this occasion, I would like to assure the people, especially those from the Maratha community, that the MVA government is making efforts to ensure that Marathas get reservation without disturbing quotas of other communities,” said Pawar.

    He said a delegation led by Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on the Maratha quota issue.

    When asked about senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis’ statement that forming a government with Ajit Pawar was a mistake, the senior NCP leader said, “14 months have passed after that episode and we are now moving ahead”.

    Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday described his teaming up with Ajit Pawar to form a short-lived 80-hour government in the state in 2019 as a mistake, adding he does not regret it.

    On November 23, 2019, amid hectic parleys between the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress to form a non-BJP government in the state after the polls threw up a hung Assembly, Fadnavis and Pawar were sworn in at dawn in a ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

    Queried about Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that if his party strikes an alliance with the NCP for the Pune civic polls, the Sena will contest at least 80 (out of total 162) seats, Pawar said everybody expresses his opinion to expand the base of the party he belongs to.

    Meanwhile, Pawar said it was his personal view that there should be a two-member ward system for civic polls.

    “There will be a ‘one member-one ward’ system in Mumbai (for 2022 civic polls). However, for other civic bodies, members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi will hold discussions. My personal view is that there should be a two- member ward,” he said.

    The NCP leader said a decision on the ward system will be taken after consulting the alliance partners- the Shiv Sena and the Congress.

  • Maratha quota: Panel suggests Maharashtra government to file review plea against SC ruling

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The panel constituted by the Maharashtra government to study the question of Maratha reservation on Friday recommended that the state government file a review petition against the May 5 ruling of the Supreme Court that cancelled the quota.

    The Maharashtra government had asked Dilip Bhosale, a retired Allahabad High Court judge on May 11, to study the Supreme Court’s May 5 judgment cancelling quota for the Maratha community. 

    The Bhosale committee was also asked to give suggestions and recommendations so that the state government can better pursue the case in the constitutional court. The committee submitted its 570 pages report to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    According to sources in the government, the report is “very positive” and suggested various ways of fighting for the quota. “On the basis of this report, the Maharashtra government will present its argument in the constitutional court and ensure that the Maratha community gets the justice,” said government sources.

    Maharashtra PWD Minister Ashok Chavan, who heads a cabinet sub-committee on the Maratha quota, said the Justice Bhosale committee recommended filing a review petition in the Supreme Court on more than 40 legal points. 

    According to the panel, the SC did not consider the 103rd constitutional amendment for providing reservation to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and protect it from the 50 per cent cap on quota. Until the apex court decides the validity of EWS quota, it was not appropriate to use the 50 per cent ceiling rule (which requires that reservation must not exceed 50 per cent) to invalidate the Maratha quota.

  • Battle for Maratha reservation to be fought in Delhi: Shiv Sena mouthpiece

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, in its editorial on Monday said that the battle for the Maratha reservation will be fought in Delhi.

    The editorial said it becomes necessary to knock on the doors of Delhi on the issue of the Maratha reservation. “The collision will prove to be decisive. To destabilize the politics of Maharashtra, the opposition will use the issue of the Maratha reservation as a weapon, then they will have to stop it in time,” it stated.

    Saamana said that Rajya Sabha MP Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje has taken an aggressive role in the context of the Maratha reservation. “He has warned to go on street agitation if there is no decision by June 6,” it said. Referring to the Supreme Court’s observation, the editorial said only the Central government has the right to make such law regarding the reservation.

    Quoting Sambhaji Raje in this context, Saamana said, “The government has three legal options. The state could file a review petition in the Supreme Court. If it is dismissed, file an amended petition. Even if it was failed, plead with the President as per Article 37 of the Constitution.”

    The publication emphasised the contribution of Maratha society in the formation of Maharashtra. It said Marathas are now lagging economically behind with poor crop harvesting due to nature’s degeneracy as well as lack of employment opportunities. Therefore, the Maharashtra Government enacted a law giving 18 percent reservation to the Maratha community, which is educationally and socially backward.

    “Therefore, the self-respect of the Marathas will have to be knocked at the door of Delhi. They will have to re-create the atmosphere of the battle of united Maharashtra in Delhi,” added Saamana.

    The Supreme Court on May 5, 2021 struck down the reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Maratha community brought in by the Maharashtra government in 2018, saying it exceeded the 50 per cent cap imposed earlier.

    A five-judge Constitution Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and Ravindra Bhat in its judgment said that that people from the Maratha community cannot be declared as educationally and socially backward community to bring them within the reserved category.