During his address at the Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally at Azad Maidan, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed his understanding of the challenges faced by the Maratha community regarding their quota. He acknowledged the pain and suffering experienced by the community and mentioned that the Justice Shinde (retd) committee is actively working on the matter. A curative petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, which previously invalidated the Maratha quota, indicating a renewed opportunity to address the issue.
Shinde took a moment to pay respects to the bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on the stage and made a commitment to provide a permanent quota for the Maratha community without causing injustice or withdrawing reservations from anyone.
He encouraged young individuals not to resort to extreme actions like suicide in response to reservation issues, urging them to consider the well-being of their families and children before making any drastic decisions.
The Maratha reservation issue has gained prominence in Maharashtra politics, with incidents like a police baton charge on supporters of Jarange during his hunger strike protest. The state government, committed to granting reservations to the Maratha community, has taken various initiatives, including publishing advertisements in major newspapers outlining the benefits provided to the community, especially in terms of employment and educational admissions through the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation.
