News Analysis India

Tag: Sambhajiraje

  • 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. 

  • Maratha community to launch agitation for reservation on June 16

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra’s Maratha community has decided to launch a massive agitation, demanding reservations for them on June 16. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to discuss the subject of reservation for the Marathas. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is also likely to meet Narendra Modi in Delhi for the same reason.

    BJP Rajya Sabha MP Chhatrapati Sambhaji announced the date for the launch of state-wide agitation at the memorial of the Shahu Maharaj in Kolhapur. The BJP state president Chandrakant Patil has extended support to the agitation. Patil said the BJP is with the Maratha community and will continue to fight for them till the community gets justice. Chhatrapati Sambhaji said that he is ready to sacrifice his life for the community.

    “I will fight till the last moment of life. The community should get the reservations. I will keep raising my voice for the community. Every community is getting reservations, then why not the Maratha community,” asked the BJP leader. He said he has met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders with demands for reservation. 

    “The Bhosale committee had given the report that has to be pursued in Supreme Court and other forums as well,” he said.

    The Supreme Court on May 5 quashed the Maratha quota law passed by the state legislature in November 2018. A state government constituted committee, headed by Justice (retd) Dilip Bhosale, studied the SC judgment and recommended filing a review petition. The apex court had termed the state quota law as unconstitutional.

  • Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati announces protest for Maratha quota from June 16

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: BJP MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati on Sunday said a statewide agitation demanding reservation for the Maratha community will be launched from Kolhapur in Maharashtra on June 16.

    Speaking at the Raigad fort after paying homage to Shivaji Maharaj on the anniversary of his coronation as “Chhatrapati” in 1674, Sambhajiraje, a descendant of the Maratha king, said a protest morcha will be taken out from the samadhi of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj in Kolhapur.

    “I will tour the entire state for the quota demand,” he said.

    Criticising the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and the BJP for indulging in a “political blame game” after the Supreme Court struck down the quota in jobs and admissions to Marathas last month, Sambhajiraje said the community is not bothered about politics.

    “We should know what is the road ahead and how to restore the quota for the community in education and jobs,” the MP said.

    He said the state government should do whatever in its capacity to ensure that the community gets justice.

    Earlier in the day, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said in Pune that the Maharashtra government was making “all possible efforts” to grant reservation to Marathas without disturbing the existing quotas of other communities.

    A committee headed by high court judge justice Dilip Bhosale (retired) on Friday recommended in its report that the Maharashtra government file a review petition against the apex court’s decision quashing the Maratha quota.